The American Institute of Steel Construction’s (AISC) Education Foundation has awarded its 2025 Reidar Bjorhovde Outstanding Young Professional Award to PhD student Hannah Kessler.
The goal of the award is to introduce the winner to steel industry leaders who will act as mentors, as its namesake Bjorhovde, a steel industry professional, researcher and leader, did for many throughout his career.
"Through this award, we are excited to connect Hannah to opportunities, resources, and mentors to further propel her forward in her career as an academic in the steel industry." said Director of Foundation Programs Maria Mnookin, who praised Kessler’s “impressive record of academics, leadership, teaching and research.”
Kessler intends to become a structural engineering faculty member after finishing her PhD this spring. Her research concerns understanding the material, fatigue, and connection performance of wire arc additively manufactured (WAAM) steels through experimental testing so that WAAM can be implemented into building and bridge structures.
Kessler called receiving the Bjorhovde award “a transformative milestone in my career, offering invaluable opportunities for professional growth and development.”
"The connections I will make through this award will be instrumental in shaping my future research and teaching endeavors," she said.
The award allowed Kessler to attend NASCC: The Steel Conference in Louisville, KY April 2-4, an educational and networking event for professionals in the design and construction of steel buildings and bridges. Throughout the year she will also visit a structural steel mill and fabrication shop to observe firsthand how design plans become structural steel components utilized at jobsites. In November, Kessler will attend the meetings of the AISC task committees responsible for the standards governing structural steel design and construction.
"She possesses the qualities, skills, and determination to advance the structural steel industry," said Kessler’s advisor, Assistant Professor Ryan Sherman. "Ultimately, I am confident that Hannah will significantly contribute to the field of civil engineering and inspire future generations of engineers."