July/August 2024 - 88

MEMBER PROF I LE
Aaron Gallant: Academic, Researcher,
Mentor, a Definite " Three-Pointer "
Aaron Gallant, Ph.D., P.E., is an associate
professor in the University of Maine's
Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering where he has been on the
faculty since 2016. He received his
bachelor's degree in civil engineering
from Tufts University in 2009 and his
master 's degree and doctorate at
Northwestern University in 2011 and
2014 respectively. At Tufts he played
varsity basketball and was the team
captain. In 2008 and 2009, he was
chosen as a member of the All-Academic
Team for the New England Small
College Athletic Conference. Anyone
who has played collegiate varsity
sports while studying civil engineering
has a sense of just how difficult that can
be. For multitasker Gallant, it was just
who he is and what he does.
And So It Begins
Gallant grew up in Bangor, Maine, where
he played multiple team sports. It was
through that experience that he learned
the value of good teamwork, a lesson
that has served him well throughout his
life. Prior to going to college, he didn't
know any civil engineers and therefore
didn't know about the many options in
the field. As he puts it, " Starting out like
many young undergraduate civil
engineering students, I had grand
visions of being a structural engineer
and designing the world's greatest sky
scrapers, bridges, etc. "
Things changed for Gallant after
serving an internship with GEI Consultants
during his junior and senior years.
He saw his future coalescing into the
geotechnical sphere. In his words, " That
opportunity with GEI opened my eyes to
AUTHOR S. Scot Litke, Hon. BC.GE
88 * DEEP FOUNDATIONS * JULY/AUG 2024
the challenging nature of designing and
constructing the unexposed portions of
the built environment. I was also
attracted to the risk associated with
aspects of geotechnical construction -
supporting a vertical 50 ft [15 m]
excavation in an urban environment
can get the blood pumping. "
Gallant started his career as a
consultant with CH2M Hill (now
Jacobs) after finishing graduate studies.
He found the work challenged him in
very helpful ways, honing his skills by
dealing with real-world design and
construction problems.
The Next Step
In 2016, Gallant left the world of the
practitioner, transitioning to that of
associate professor at the University of
Maine, as he puts it, " to pursue a new
opportunity and challenge. " He was
interested in teaching, conducting
research and mentoring students. He
has been able to maintain his industry
connections serving as a consultant
and advisor on research and construction
projects. Colleague and friend,
Kord Wissmann, Ph.D., P.E., BC.GE,
president and chief engineer at Geopier,
a division of CMC, shares his view of
Gallant, when he says, " Of all the great
people that I have the privilege of
working with in our profession, Aaron
Gallant is at the top of the list. His
boyish enthusiasm in his approach to
solving new problems takes over the
room and infects us all. "
Regarding Gallant's research with
3D finite element analysis of rigid
inclusions subject to lateral loads,
Wissmann relates, " He reached out to a
host of industry partners to serve as
participants. He makes you want to
contribute and that in and of itself
pushes forward the profession and the
people in it. We are lucky to have a
colleague and researcher like Aaron
among us. "
When it comes to teaching, Gallant
relishes engaging with students during
class. He enjoys creating a vibrant
atmosphere for everyone. He believes
the reward for what is learned comes
much later in a student's life. He particularly
appreciates receiving unsolicited
messages from past students
highlighting just how what they
learned in his classrooms applies to
their everyday professional lives.
Having had many influential mentors
in his own life, he takes on a similar
role for his students at all levels from
undergrad through master's and Ph.D.
candidates. In this regard, when
referring to his own career he says, " I
am grateful to have had so many who
allowed me to adopt them as mentees.
The one thing I discuss with my
graduate students on their way out the
door is to seek out great mentors. "
July/August 2024

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