Paul Goodrum, the Nicholas R. Petry Professor of Construction Engineering and Management at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been named head of the Department of Construction Management at Colorado State University.
He will succeed Interim Department Head Mehmet Ozbek when he starts on July 1.
“The Department of Construction Management has always been a program with outstanding students, staff and faculty,” Goodrum said. “I’m thrilled to join the department.”
“I could not be more excited to welcome Dr. Goodrum to the position,” said College of Health and Human Sciences Dean Lise Youngblade. “He brings an outstanding set of skills and experiences to the table, and I am looking forward to the continued growth of our excellent Department of Construction Management under his leadership.”
Goodrum, who has collaborated with CM faculty on research grants in the past, said one of the things that attracted him to the job is the CM department’s partnerships with industry.
“A sign of a successful construction management program is a strong industry connection, and that is a big strength of the CM Department at CSU,” Goodrum said. “Another strength is the department’s passionate students, staff and faculty. There’s a real optimism for the future of the program.”
Benefits of industry involvement
Goodrum explained that industry partnerships are good for the curriculum, because they provide internships to students and keep the curriculum updated. As a result, faculty and students can help solve problems facing the industry, from workforce needs to addressing the nation’s infrastructure challenges.
When asked about his priorities for the department, he said maintaining and building on the excellence of the undergraduate program will be “job one.” Goodrum expressed support for expanding the unit’s excellent service and outreach programs, like CM Cares.
“Considering what is currently happening with COVID-19,” he said, “our communities are going to need to increased support and outreach like CM Cares, which provides a great opportunity for students to experience firsthand how construction improves the lives of others.”
“A sign of a successful construction management program is a strong industry connection, and that is a big strength of the CM Department at CSU.” – Paul Goodrum
He also plans to enhance the research impact of the department and boost the number of women in the department.
“A significant challenge in the construction industry is the underrepresentation of women, both among craft professionals and supervisors,” he said. “We as a university can be doing our part to create inclusive educational and work environments.”
Goodrum said he looks forward to creating a vision for the department in collaboration with the faculty and staff during his first year in the position.
Goodrum already lives in Fort Collins and has been commuting to Boulder for six years. His wife, Sarah, is a professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Northern Colorado. Goodrum added that he loves Fort Collins and the Northern Colorado community.
“In my experience, there’s a correlation between great locations and great universities,” he said, citing his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in civil engineering.
‘Fell in love’ with construction
Goodrum found his passion for construction while completing his undergraduate degree in civil engineering at the University of Washington.
“When I took my first course in construction, I just fell in love with it,” he said. “Construction is a very complex field, and that’s always attracted me to it. It offers tremendous opportunities for people to provide benefits to others in society. Construction is at the nexus of a healthy society, from many different angles, such as building the systems to renew our nation’s infrastructure and developing the capital facilities to support economic growth.”
He spent several years working in the industry after earning his master’s degree, and his first faculty job was at the University of Kentucky, where he spent 11 years before taking the CU job in 2012.
“Construction is at the nexus of a healthy society, from many different angles, such as building the systems to renew our nation’s infrastructure and developing the capital facilities to support economic growth.” – Paul Goodrum
As for learning how to cheer for Rams instead of Buffs, the Kentucky native said he’s already had lots of practice because he and his family have attended many CSU basketball and football games. He and his wife enjoyed coaching a local third-grade baseball team a couple of years ago. They have two boys, Sam, 12, and Henry, 10.
Goodrum lists fly fishing among his hobbies, but he says his primary passion is teaching.
“When people ask what I do, I have always said that I teach, because I believe that’s the core of who I am and what we do as a faculty,” he said.
The Department of Construction Management is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.