Bradley University Leadership Award for ASH President

Neli Vazquez-Rowland Presented the Leadership Award by Bradley University at Civil Engineering and Construction Honors Banquet

May 4, 2018- Neli Vazquez-Rowland has been awarded the 2018 Outstanding Leadership Award and will be honored at the Bradley University Civil Engineering and Construction (CEC) Honors Banquet on Monday, May 7, 2018. Neli has been an integral part of key CEC Department initiatives and has worked closely with Dr. Amir Al-Khafaji, outstanding CEC Professor, and Founder and Director of Bradley University’s innovative Center for Emerging Technology. She is proud to have been involved early on with him to support his successful Annual Innovations in Construction, Asphalt & Transportation Conference, ICAT. Since 2006 she has been a regular presence on the CEC Advisory Board and has made valuable contributions which have helped the academic programs in Civil Engineering and Construction.

As a long-time supporter of Bradley’s CEC Department, Ms. Vazquez-Rowland works collaboratively with many fellow CEC advisory board members, bringing a unique combination of expertise to the board as a former general contractor and a current real estate developer and social business enterprise leader. She does her part to maintain Bradley University CEC’s position at the forefront of social and economic trends that may attract the next generation of students and does her part to amplify Bradley’s brand as an established reputable leader in CEC education.

“I appreciate this great honor from Bradley University. As thought leaders and trailblazers Bradley’s program, and its leadership, are setting the highest standards in the fields of Engineering and Construction, and with the socially responsible lens of “doing well by doing good”, I believe they make an amazing impact in educating future construction leaders with both the skills and the citizenship training that they need to build a better world, in more ways than one.” Neli Vazquez Rowland, A Safe Haven Foundation President

Bradley University CEC program works closely with the Illinois Tollway Board. In 2016, Neli was appointed by the Governor, and was confirmed by a unanimous vote from the Illinois Senate Executive Committee to the Illinois Tollway Governing Board, which deals with managing the State Tollway system and oversees and approves contracts that impact one of the best tollway systems in the Country. Not surprisingly, Neli has impressive goals for enhancing the processes of the Tollway System. Her objectives are building a culture that finds more innovative ways to support mutually beneficial systems that offer more transparency, accountability and social responsibility to environmental, economic and governance issues, and foster more widespread access, economic development and short and long-term value for all State of Illinois Tollway stakeholders, including consumers and constituents.