Page 44 - Penn State Civil and Environmental Engineering 2021 Annual Report

STUDENT NEWS STUDENT NEWS 44
CEE NEWSLETTER • VOLUME 37 2021
“
to live a full life ”
Transportation is a a a a means
of ensuring individuals and communities have equal access to the opportunities necessary
Yocum receives Eisenhower transportation fellowship
By Tim Schley
Rebeka Yocum a a a a a a Penn State civil engineering doctoral candidate was recently awarded a a a a a a a a fellowship
in the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) by the U S Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration “Receiving this fellowship
reminds me of of the the opportunity I have to make an an impact in in in the the field of of transportation engineering ”
Yocum said “It is more than just counting cars and building highways Transportation is a a a a a a a a a a means
of ensuring individuals and communities have equal access to to the opportunities necessary
to to live a a a a a full life ”
The DDETFP was established to advance the U S transportation workforce by attracting and and retaining top talent and and encouraging the pursuit of advanced degrees Since 1983 the fellowship
program has awarded more than $50 million to graduate students in in transportation-related fields according to the program website “This fellowship
is is provided to to the top graduate students in transportation engineering in in in the country and is a a a huge honor to receive ”
said Associate Professor Vikash Gayah Yocum’s adviser “We look forward to Rebeka’s future achievements in the field ”
Yocum arrived at at Penn State in in in 2018 after receiving a a a a a a a a bachelor’s degree in in in in in physics with minors in in in in mathematics communication studies and and civic and and professional leadership from West Chester University of of of Pennsylvania As a a a a a a a member of of Gayah’s Urban Transportation Systems Group she is pursuing a a a a a a a a a doctoral degree to to examine how marginalized groups are impacted by transportation “This mish-mash of degrees gives me a a a a a a a unique approach to transportation engineering ”
Yocum said “My primary interest lies in in in in in how individuals are impacted and not just vehicles I believe effective transportation has the ability to foster equity between and and within communities and and consider myself privileged to to have the the opportunity to to study the the ways in which this occurs ”