Matthew Barrows

Contact Information:

City Campus (Lincoln)
Kiewit Hall - A405FF
mbarrows@unl.edu

Associate Professor of Practice

Academic Degrees

  • M.Eng. in Construction Management - University of Colorado-Denver - 2017
  • B.S. in Civil Engineering - Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO - 1999

Experience

 

 EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE – EDUCATION

  • Associate Professor of Practice, Durham School, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Fall 2023 to present 
  • Assistant Professor of Practice, Durham School, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Fall 2017 to Spring 2023 
  • Teaching Assistant – Materials and Methods, University of Colorado – Denver - Spring 2017
  • Adjunct Instructor, Construction Estimating, Front Range Community College, Westminster, CO - 2010

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

GH Phipps Construction Company                                                                     May 2019 – June 2019

  • Professor in Residence

Ridgeline CM, LLC. Englewood, CO                                                                     2015 to 2019

  • Principle

Brinkmann Constructors, Denver, CO and St. Louis, MO                                                        

  • Senior project manager                                                                            2011 – 2016
  • Project manager                                                                                         2004 – 2011
  • Project engineer                                                                                         2000 – 2004

Appointment

  • 90% teaching, 10% service

Areas of Research and Professional Interest

SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP

Industry Relations

  • Construction Industry Advisory Council (CIAC) – Academic member/company liaison
  • CIAC – Curriculum Committee liaison

Advising

  • Academic advisor for 75+ undergraduate students

Student Involvement

  • Associated General Contractors – student chapter advisor (fall 2017 to current)
  • Associated Schools of Construction – student competition coach
    • 2021 Region 4 - commerical division 2 - 2nd place
    • 2019 International Region 8 - QS/CM - 2nd place
    • 2019 Region 4 - commercial division 1 - 1st place
    • 2019 Region 4 - commercial division 2 - 2nd place
    • 2018 Region 4 – commercial division – 2nd place
    • 2017 Region 4 – commercial division – 5th place 

Department Service

  • Outreach and Recuritment Committee - Chair (2021 to current)
  • Search committee member (Professor of Practice search 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
  • Curriculum committee member – Construction Management Dept.

Professional Service

  • ASC Region 4 – Student competition – Commercial II Division Coordinator (2018 to current)

Pedagogy Training

  • College of Engineering - Teaching Fellow - 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
  • ASCE ExCEEd (Excellence in Civil Engineering Education) teaching workshop (2018)
  • College of Engineering COPUS Teaching Evaluation Project (2018)
  • UNL Teaching and Learning Symposium (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Outreach and Recruitment

  • "UNL's Discover Engineering Days" (2020, 2022)
  • “Explore Your Future with the Durham School” co-host (spring 2019, spring 2021)
  • “Explorers Post” construction management activity (2018, 2019, 2021)
  • SAME (Society of American Military Engineers) “Mentoring Career Day” construction management activity (spring 2019, 2020, 2021)
  • Field Club Outreach Event construction management activity (spring 2019, 2020)
  • “Construction Career Days” construction management activity (2018, 2019) 

Courses Taught

  • CNST 241 - Construction Methods and Equipment I
  • CNST 379 - Estimating II
  • CNST 489 - Senior Capstone
  • CNST 498 - ASC Student Competition Preparation
  • CNST 498 - Industry "Boot Camp"

About Matthew Barrows

I joined the Durham School at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in the fall of 2017 after 18 years in the construction industry. I have really enjoyed being in the classroom and working with the students. Bringing my industry experience into the classroom allows me to better arm the students with the skills they will need to succeed in their career.  

Honors and Awards

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  • Educator of the Year, City campus, Construction Management Department (2018 and 2023)
  • Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students, UNL Parents Assoc. (2018)
  • Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students, UNL Parents Assoc. (2017)

ASC - Associated Schools of Construction 

  • ASC Region 4 - Regional Teaching Award - 2020
  • Kiewit IJCER (International Journal of Construction Education and Research) Best Journal Paper - 2021, Value of Certifications when Seeking Construction Employment

Selected Publications

Technical Reports:

Matthew Barrows & Kevin Grosskopf (2020) Integrated Project Delivery Guide for Sheet Metal, HVAC, and Mechanical Contractors, Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractor's National Association 

Publications:

Matthew Barrows, Caroline M. Clevenger, Moatassem Abdallah & Wei Wu (2019) Value of Certifications when Seeking Construction Employment, International Journal of Construction Education and Research, DOI: 10.1080/15578771.2019.1575936

Assessing an Online Tool to Promote Sustainability Competencies in Construction Engineering Education, Caroline M. Clevenger, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE1 ; Moatassem Abdallah, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE2 ; Wei Wu, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE3 ; and Matthew Barrows - J. Prof. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract., 2019, 145(1): 04018014 DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000397. © 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers