Gustavo Menezes

Gustavo Menezes is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), within the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology. His research spans technical studies in subsurface water quality and vadose zone hydrology, alongside innovative educational initiatives aimed at enhancing STEM education equity and student success. He holds a PhD in Infrastructures and Environmental Systems from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte (2007), an MS in Civil Engineering (2004), and a B.S. from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (2000).

Dr. Menezes leads the Eco-STEM initiative, an NSF-funded program transforming STEM education through an asset-based ecosystem model. He has co-developed curricula like the SUCCEEd program and the BOOST summer bridge program, focusing on supporting underrepresented students. His work includes measuring systemic STEM educational wellness via surveys and fostering faculty-led communities of practice to improve institutional ecosystems.

His technical research employs centrifugation methods to analyze unsaturated soil flow, with recent studies on recycled materials in embankments and erosion control in hydroelectric systems. He actively publishes in engineering education and environmental geotechnics, emphasizing sustainable infrastructure and pedagogical innovation.

Key contributions include the Eco-STEM Healthy Educational Ecosystem Toolkit, designed to assess and improve educational ecosystems. His NSF-funded projects reflect a dual commitment to advancing both environmental engineering science and equitable, student-centered education.