Hello, my name is Lujain Al Ali. I am an international student from Kuwait and part of University of Portland’s graduating class of 2020. I graduated from UP with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management. Coming into UP, I had a passion for engineering and problem solving. My eagerness to solve problems has led me to continue my education in the hopes to receive an MBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management. During my undergrad studies, knowing that four years of college would fly by in a blink of an eye, I aimed to seek as many opportunities as possible. During my first year I heard about the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenge Scholars Program. I thought it was an incredible opportunity worth pursuing. As an Engineering Grand Challenge scholar, I took part in diverse experiences that enabled me to grow as an engineering student and a person both inside and outside of the classroom. As you navigate through my profile, you can learn about each of my experiences and see how this program has allowed me to become a more well-rounded problem solver.
From the 14 critical Grand Challenges that the NAE’S Grand Challenge Scholars Program presents to its scholars, I decided to tackle the Grand Challenge of Restoring and Improving Urban Infrastructure. Since I can remember, I have been intrigued by infrastructure. Not only by the physical characteristics but also because of the important benefits infrastructure provides to various societies and groups of people. Furthermore, we live in a hectic world that operates at a rapid pace. Hence, we tend to pay little attention to the critical components of infrastructure that are being utilized daily and allow our society to function. We forget that just like nearly everything else, infrastructure has a limited lifespan. By combining my interests in innovation and infrastructure with the goals of the NAE’s Grand Challenge Scholars Program, I had the opportunity to dive into the topic of restoring and improving urban infrastructure, understand the critical issues that today’s infrastructure faces and to investigate potential solutions.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
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