Invested in students...
Dr. B acted as my mentor and instructor in numerous positions to include an Intro to Soils class, the Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory (FERL), and as PI on a research project. Dr. B first stood out to me when she was teaching my first soils class at the AFA. Her classroom instruction fostered an environment of engaged learning, cultivated conversation, and imparted wisdom. Whether at the Academy or at home on her personal phone, Dr. B was consistent with being available to all for extra instruction. As a result of her leadership as an instructor and as a female in engineering, I sought her out as a mentor. In addition to mentoring on leadership and career goals, Dr. B never missed a beat with all facets of my life. She was invested in her students and mentees all the way down to lending a sympathetic ear. For these reasons stated, Dr. B holds a special place in my life and will continue to as a professional and now as a friend.
Passion for geotech...
My first class through the civil engineering department was with Dr. Beauregard. It was a great experience because she showed up every day with a clear passion for civil engineering, in particular anything regarding geotechnical engineering, and was always willing to put aside extra time in order to help students understand what they were learning. After that I was lucky enough to be placed with Dr. B as my academic advisor, and to take a further two classes with her. She helped me decide what courses to take over the span of my four years and if there was ever anything she didn't know she would always find it out as soon as possible. Taking higher level classes with her was made fun through her interactive teaching style and love for anything soil related. She was always a great resource to ask questions about the field and a role model for what a professional career could look like through her previous job experience and research background.
Unmatched Dedication...
I had Dr. Beauregard for three semesters of Geotechnical Engineering classes. Her dedication to the success of all her students is constantly unmatched by other professors - she goes above and beyond in making sure that we succeed. She was always ready to help us work through anything we were unsure about, and without giving us the answer, she would gently prod us in the direction we needed to go by asking us questions and making us think, which vastly improved our levels of understanding. Her instruction was invaluable to me as a student and her flexibility regarding office hours was so helpful, in that she would answer questions at almost any hour of the day to make sure that her students got the help they needed.
Making Mohr's Circle Fun...
What separates Dr. Beauregard from other passionate educators is her ability to make this passion infectious and then leverage it to aid in the learning process. Few people I’ve ever met have the charisma and personality to convince a room full of sleep deprived 20-year old college students to be even slightly interested in Mohr’s circle at 7am, but she is among these elite few. There are some interpersonal leadership skills that are difficult, if not impossible to teach, and for Dr. Beauregard, even in her first semester in the front of the classroom it was evident that these skills came naturally, having only grown since. It was because of her passion for soil mechanics and the role civil engineers play in society, that I was convinced to pursue not only an advanced degree in geotechnical engineering, but also a lifelong career as a civil engineer.