Janille Smith-Colin

Janille Smith-Colin is the J. Lindsay Embrey Trustee Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Southern Methodist University (SMU), where she leads the Smith-Colin Research Group. As a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) and Jr. Editor for the ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems, her work bridges infrastructure management with social equity. She serves on the Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Transportation Planning Analysis and Application (AEP15).

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology
• Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Studies from Lafayette College

Smith-Colin's research centers on sociotechnical systems modeling to advance equity, sustainability, and resilience in transportation infrastructure. She employs system dynamics and spatial analysis to examine transportation as a social determinant of health, with emphasis on underserved communities. Her engineering education work integrates community-based participatory research and design thinking to develop inclusive pedagogical approaches.

Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward data-driven equity assessment, utilizing social media mining, mobile trajectory data, and spatial analytics to investigate infrastructure deserts, micromobility access, and health impacts. She pioneers social return on investment (SROI) frameworks for transportation solutions, connecting civil engineering with public health and disaster resilience through interdisciplinary methodologies.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Best Poster Award, International Conference on Transportation & Development (2023)
• Golden Mustang Teaching Award, SMU (2023)
• National Academies Gulf Coast Research Program Early Career Fellowship (2021)
• ASCE ExCEED Teaching Fellow (2019)

Her research is funded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, with grants supporting equity-focused transportation projects. While student advisees aren't explicitly listed, her community-based research approach indicates active mentorship in solving civil engineering challenges for marginalized groups. She also contributes to transportation policy through regional collaborations.

The Smith-Colin Research Group develops evidence-based tools for infrastructure equity, conducting spatial analysis of transportation systems and health outcomes. Current projects involve system dynamics modeling for social sustainability, Twitter-based crisis response monitoring, and partnerships with Dallas-area agencies to map infrastructure deficiencies and mobility barriers.