For Mina Golazad, engineering has always been about more than data and design—it’s about people. Whether she’s using machine learning to improve Utah’s public transit or mentoring a young student with dreams of civil engineering, Mina brings both heart and vision to her work. That rare combination recently earned her the 2025 Matt Riffkin Legacy Scholarship, awarded by the WTS Northern Utah Chapter to one exceptional student from the Utah region.

A Ph.D. student in Civil & Environmental Engineering (CvEEN) at the University of Utah, Mina recently received the highly competitive award, recognizing not only academic excellence but also leadership, community engagement, and a commitment to advancing the transportation field. Applicants are required to submit two essays: a personal statement and a transportation challenge analysis.

In her personal statement, Mina shared her journey from a childhood fascination with infrastructure in Iran to her current research in AI- and GIS-driven transportation solutions. She emphasized the role of community involvement in her work, highlighting her mentorship of a high school student, Frances Hodson.

Mina’s mentorship of France’s engineering curiosity began during the Hi-Gear summer camp hosted by the University of Utah’s Price College of Engineering. Designed to expose students to various fields of engineering, the camp featured daily sessions on disciplines ranging from chemical and mechanical to electrical and civil engineering. During the civil engineering session, a demonstration led by Dr. Abbas Rashidi and his Ph.D. students, Mina Golazad and Abbas Mohammadi, immediately captured Frances’s attention. The team showcased the use of photogrammetry—a technique that creates 3D models from photographs—to model buildings, sparking Frances’s interest in civil engineering and setting the foundation for a year-long mentorship.

“Throughout the school year, Mina met with me several times to advise me on my project. She did everything from explaining basic bridge design to outlining how to write a research paper,” said Frances. “I could not be more grateful that the University of Utah welcomed my amateur research ideas with open arms and encouraged my curiosity.”

Mina’s guidance helped Frances finalize a research paper and presentation. Her experience working with Mina and the University of Utah played a meaningful role in shaping her college plans, and she is now set to study civil engineering at Cornell University.

At the same time, Mina was preparing the technical component of her WTS scholarship application, where she addressed a major transportation challenge facing Utah. Mina’s essay outlined her work on enhancing Utah’s public transit system through machine learning, GIS mapping, and resilience planning. Her innovative vision reflects the core values of the Matt Riffkin Legacy: creating effective, data-driven solutions for sustainable mobility.

Please join us in congratulating Mina on this well-deserved recognition!