Gracie Kerr
Graduate Student CIVE-MS Lincoln Structural Engineering-Advisor: Richard Wood University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Contact
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gkerr3@huskers.unl.edu
Hello! I am a civil engineering master’s student with an emphasis in structural engineering and a graduate research assistant in engineering education research under the advisement of Dr. Logan Perry. My past research in engineering education has primarily focused on instructional change in terms of transparency and student support systems over time, within the context of the COVID-19 disruption. Currently, my research focus lies in civil engineering workplace development and next-generation recruitment strategies for state transportation departments. After completing my master’s degree, I plan to pursue my PhD in engineering education with the goal of building a career as a civil engineering faculty member.
Education
Academic Degrees
• M.S. Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, May 2026 (in progress)
• B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, May 2025
• B.S. Mathematics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, May 2025
Employment History
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) in Engineering Education Research to Dr. Logan Perry, May 2025 - present
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Undergraduate Research Assistant in Engineering Education Research to Dr. Grace Panther, August 2023 – May 2025
• Kiewit Infrastructure Engineering, Structural Engineer Intern, May 2022 – August 2023
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy (PKFEA) Mathematics Tutor, January 2023 – May 2023
Area of Research and Professional Interest
• Instructor Adaptability
• Instructor-Student Interactions and Student Supports
• Workplace Development and Diversity
• University to Industry Transition
Research Experience
• Investing in Talent for Next Generation Transportation Engineering, Mid-America Transportation Center for Transportation Safety and Equity, May 2025 - present
• Evidencing Epidemic Change in Engineering Education: Shedding Light on Instructor Adaptability and Course Complexity for Sustained Change, National Science Foundation, August 2023 - present
Publications and Presentations
• Kerr, G.*, Wulf, H. J.*, & Panther, G. Student Supports and Instructor Transparency Identified in Engineering Syllabi over Nine Semesters. 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal, QC, CAN, 06/24/2025
*Shared First-Authorship
• Kerr, G.*, Wulf, H.*, Panther, G., & Diefes-Dux, H. Instructional Change in Engineering Undergraduate Courses: Evidence-Based Scoring of Syllabi and LMS Feature Use. UNL Student Research Days Undergraduate Poster Session, Lincoln, NE, USA, 04/15/2025
*Shared First-Authorship
• Kerr, G., Panther, G., & Diefes-Dux, H. Variation in Instructional and Personal Supports for Engineering Students Identified in Syllabi over Five Years. Nebraska Summer Research Program Symposium, Lincoln, NE, USA, 08/06/2024
• Wulf, H., Kerr, G., Panther, G., & Diefes-Dux, H. Use of Syllabi to Determine Changes in the Facilitation of Learning in Engineering. UNL Student Research Days Undergraduate Poster Session, Lincoln, NE, USA, 03/27/2024
Service
• Graduate Mentor, UNL Engineering Education Research REU Program, June 2025 – present
• President, UNL Engineering Student Advisory Board, April 2024 – May 2025
• FE Quiz Bowl Planning Co-Lead, 2025 ASCE Mid-America Student Symposium, July 2024 – April 2025
Honors and Awards
• 2025 Best Professional Interest Council (PIC) II Paper, ASEE Annual Conference (2025)
• Best Paper Award - First Place, ASEE Annual Conference - New Engineering Educators Division (2025)
• Best Diversity Paper Award - Third Place, ASEE Annual Conference - New Engineering Educators Division (2025)
• UNL Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences (UCARE) Funding Award (2024 - 2025)
• UNL College of Engineering Undergraduate Research Scholarship (2025)
• Outstanding Engineering Education Poster, Nebraska Summer Research Symposium (2024)
Hometown: Omaha, NE
School: Marian High School
Major: Civil Engineering
Kiewit Internship Location(s): Nebraska, Colorado
Additional Experience: Engineering Education Undergraduate Research, Nebraska