Frederick Gould, Roger Williams University’s Ahlborg professor of construction management, was honored as ASC Outstanding Educator of the Year at the International Conference of the Associated School of Construction’s recent awards banquet. ASC is a professional organization devoted to advancing construction education. Gould was director of ASC’s Region I, which encompasses New England and part of the mid-Atlantic, for six years.
PBN: How did you get your start in construction management?
GOULD: I started out as a civil engineer in the Air Force, ending up more involved in managing the design and construction process versus straight design. I oversaw the design of a medical facility at Hanscom Air Force Base and the construction of a space shuttle launch complex (one small part, as this project was huge) at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
I received a scholarship to attend graduate school and majored in construction engineering and project management at MIT.
Beyond Cash Donations: How New Forms of Giving Are Transforming Not-for-Profit Accounting
Evolving Funding Landscape for Not-for-Profits Not-for-profit organizations are being asked to do more with less,…
Learn More
PBN: How much demand is there for construction management courses at the university?
GOULD: Construction management is a very popular major nationwide. Many students select CM right out of high school, while others start in architecture, engineering or business and find themselves transferring in. Currently, we cannot graduate enough students to fill the demands of industry. Over the last six years our CM program has grown from 50 majors to over 175.
PBN: What have you accomplished as director of ASC’s Region I?
GOULD: I was successful in strengthening our annual conference. Our region meets in November for a student competition and faculty meeting, where we share research and teaching ideas and do a lot of networking.
During my tenure, I focused on strengthening the student competition. I added competition categories in heavy highway and design-build, engaged corporate sponsorship for each category and added a student job fair. The job fair and corporate sponsorship ended up making the event free for the students, doubling the number of students involved.
I continue on as regional job fair coordinator and treasurer.
