Pictured: Nicole Berge (left), Katie Johnson (right)
Civil Engineering Associate Professor Nicole Berge and alumna Katie Johnson recently received prestigious awards from the South Carolina Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Berge was named ASCE-SC Educator of the Year, while Johnson was awarded the ASCE-SC Young Engineer of the Year. The awards were presented at the section’s annual fall conference last month in Columbia.
Berge, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of South Carolina, has been part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty since 2009. According to her nomination letter from Associate Professor Michael Meadows, Berge “has built a strong reputation and notable expertise in her specialty area of environmental engineering. Her priority is to create an efficient program of education in civil engineering that is academically rigorous and professionally acceptable.”
“Winning this award is a huge honor. I love interacting with and teaching students, so to be recognized for work in that area is very humbling,” Berge says.
Berge has taught a combination of 10 undergraduate and graduate courses. To enhance and modernize the department’s educational offerings, she developed two courses in the curriculum. By developing the Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Research course, students learn how to complete a literature review, and read and write technical papers. In her Life Cycle Assessment of Engineered Systems course, Berge teaches students about sustainability, treating civil and environmental engineering projects as systems, and how to calculate environmental impacts of a system.
“Her passion for education and leadership skills exemplifies her dedication to preparing the engineers of the future,” says Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Chair Juan Caicedo. “She is an integral part of our department and plays an important role leading our undergraduate program, including spearheading the development of our new Environmental and Sustainable Engineering minor.”
Berge says that while in the classroom she tries to connect with students and shares her passion for the material she teaches. This is particularly evident in her Principles of Municipal Solid Waste Engineering course, with topics such as solid waste generation, source reduction and recycling, landfilling, and thermal conversion.
“I love talking about trash. Although no one's going to leave this course loving trash and talking about it as much as me, I hope students have an appreciation for the complexities associated with managing the trash we generate and with an understanding of why such topics are important to engineers,” Berge says. “I try to interject my passion and personal experiences in my classes and make them as interactive and active as possible.”
Berge’s research focuses on understanding how physical, chemical and biological processes can be manipulated to promote sustainable waste treatment techniques that lead to carbon sequestration, energy generation and value-added product production. She says that her research and teaching are often intersected in the classroom.
“Most of the research I do is involved in trash in some way or another, so I’m able to bring that experience and passion to the classroom. The Life Cycle Assessment of Engineered Systems course that I developed teaches about life cycle assessments, which is also a big part of my research,” Berge says. “Through research, you learn about practical problems that people experience and bringing that to the classroom truly improves the student experience.”
Johnson, who graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering in 2021, is a civil designer for Thomas & Hutton in Columbia. Her responsibilities include creating site layouts that are value engineered and balanced as reasonably possible, providing sewer and water connections, and performing hydraulic calculations.
“I am extremely honored to have been selected as SC Young Engineer of the Year, but it is a testament to my mentors that I have had throughout my career so far,” Johnson says. “I have been lucky to have mentors who continually strive to enhance my knowledge of civil engineering and professional development. I am grateful to have been recognized for using my profession to help improve and better the state of South Carolina.”
Prior to her current position, Johnson worked in geotechnical engineering, a branch of civil engineering focused on the behavior and mechanics of soil and rock. From 2014 to 2022, she served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a section sergeant for the Battalion Survey and Design Team. Her work included performing a topographic survey on Fort Jackson to provide accurate contour lines to assess drainage issues, and field and laboratory testing on construction materials in adherence to Army standards.
Johnson says the most rewarding part of her career is taking complex problems and working to find the best solution for clients.
“For example, this may include planning a site and deciding the best location for the building, parking areas, and stormwater management. It’s also determining the best elevations for these areas to reduce earthwork costs, since they can be complex and tedious tasks,” Johnson says. “However, when the construction starts to take life, it is the most incredible feeling to see the finished product and the positive impact it will have on the community, whether economically, socially or physically.”
Johnson also serves as the young member chair of the ASCE Midlands Branch. She strives to bring together new and young engineers in the local community and provide them with networking opportunities and events.
“I believe as a young engineer it is imperative that we network with experienced engineers in order to gain mentorship and guide us professionally,” Johnson says. “I also believe it is important we network with peers, as all disciplines of civil engineers need to work together to better our community.”
“Katie’s award underscores the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering’s commitment to train well-rounded professionals,” Caicedo says. “She is an excellent example of how our students thrive in the profession because of their technical and professional skills.”