Sara Oliver

About Sara Oliver

I am the Director of the Master of Engineering in Climate and Sustainability Engineering at Duke University and an Executive in Residence in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. I\'m passionate about empowering engineering leaders of the future with the technical knowledge and skills needed to innovate and design solutions to climate challenges within our uncertain and rapidly changing world. Through my career working on large scale infrastructure projects and in partnership with communities who are impacted both by those infrastructure projects and climate change – I have a unique perspective on the increasing demand for engineers equipped to synthesize the big picture of the climate landscape with the technical skills expertise required to implement engineering solutions.I started my career as a civil highway design engineer working on major highways and bridges in the NYC area such as the Staten Island Expressway and the Long Island Expressway. After earning my Professional Engineering License, I moved to Texas and was a Project Manager at an environmental engineering firm managing compliance projects for coal power plants. I returned to NYC to work on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge (Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement). My career focus pivoted to resilience and sustainable design when I became the Project Manager for the PANYNJ World Trade Center Flood Resiliency Program project, after Hurricane Sandy. Most recently, I was the Deputy Program Director for the FEMA Community Engagement and Risk Communications (CERC) contract, serving as the Program Manager for Michael Baker Engineering in a joint Venture with Ogilvy. The CERC contract works in partnership with communities to help them understand their unique risk to natural disasters and equip them to take action to protect themselves through a unique variety of (100s of) projects ranging from mitigation planning to engineered solutions to art installations. I received my undergraduate degree with distinction from Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering (BSE in Civil Engineering) and a Master of Urban Planning from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service. I\'m licensed as a Professional Engineer (NY) and a Project Management Professional.

Experience

1. Executive in Residence Climate and Sustainability Engineering

   Duke University Pratt School Of Engineering

   Jul 2023 — Present · Durham, NC, US

Education

• New York University

  MUP

  2008 — 2011

• Duke University

  BSE, Civil Engineering

  2002 — 2006