Mary Roth

Mary Roth is the Simon Cameron Long Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Acting Department Head at Lafayette College. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maine, an M.S. from Cornell University, and a B.S. from Lafayette College. Her research focuses on enhancing structural safety through geotechnical engineering, including sinkhole detection, soil improvement via microbial action, and failure modeling in retaining walls/dams. She emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, partnering with biologists to innovate soil-strengthening techniques.

Teaching highlights include a First-Year Seminar creating design field guides and a senior capstone course connecting students with alumni mentors. She champions liberal arts integration in engineering education, valuing Lafayette’s small-scale, cross-disciplinary environment.

Professionally, she mentors women and nonbinary faculty through Lafayette’s Minerva group and serves as an ABET evaluator. Personal interests include playing the English concertina in Irish sessions and contra dances, as well as resurrecting her French horn skills through lessons at the College.