Awards

Research Awards

NSF BRITE Award, 2021

The NSF BRITE (Boosting Research Ideas for Transformative and Equitable Advances in Engineering) initiative aims to enable and create opportunities to advance scientific discoveries and new research using a variety of approaches that harness the national talent ecosystem of experienced faculty. Recognizing that a successful faculty research career is neither linear nor continuous, this BRITE solicitation seeks proposals that enable experienced researchers and scholars (tenured or equivalent) to forge new directions or to enter new fields by capitalizing or branching out of their established knowledge domains.

Georgia Tech CEE Inter-disciplinary Research Award, 2017

This prize, attributed every year, recognizes contributions through interdisciplinary research activities. The awards committee of Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) examines a nomination package that includes a description of achievements, grants and publications. Dr. Arson's group was recognized for contributions made in rock mechanics, structural engineering and material sciences, as well as dentistry and biology, energy geotechnology, public policy, and sociology.

NSF Early CAREER Award, 2016

The CAREER is the National Science Foundation's most prestigious award in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.

ALERT Geomaterials Ph.D. Prize, 2010

Dr. Arson obtained (ex aequo) the ALERT Geomaterials Ph.D. Prize (Alliance of Laboratories in Europe for Research and Technology). The ALERT is a European school of thinking in the field of the Mechanics of Geomaterials, gathering 25 European laboratories. Researchers of all teams meet every year for workshops and doctoral schools. Because the ALERT Geomaterials gathers researchers from all over Europe, the ALERT Prize is recognized in all European institutes that have a division in geomaterials, as well as in the institutes that collaborate with them, even out of Europe.

ENPC Ph.D. Special Prize, 2010

Dr. Arson earned the Ph.D. Special Prize awarded by Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC, France). Every year, six freshly graduated doctors of ENPC are selected to compete for a Ph.D. Prize and a Special Prize. The jury is composed of five faculty members with very different backgrounds (mathematics, fundamental mechanics, transportation, environmental engineering, sociology...). The prizes are awarded based on an application package (CV, publications, thesis summary) and an oral presentation.

Teaching Recognitions

Thank a Teacher certificate, Georgia Tech, 2015 -- 2020

Thank a Teacher is a program sponsored by the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL). The program provides students with an opportunity to give feedback to outstanding teachers, advisers and mentors. Dr. Arson was recognized for her excellent teaching of the undergraduate course on Mechanics of Deformable Bodies (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) and of the graduate courses on Tunneling and Mining: Mechanics and Engineering (2017) and Computational Methods in Mechanics (2020).

2013 Georgia Tech "Class of 1969" Teaching Fellowship, 2013 -- 2014

Dr. Arson was selected to participate in the 2013 GeorgiaTech "Class of 1969" Teaching Fellowship program. Selection is based on peer-reviewed examination of an application package comprising a CV, a motivation letter and a letter of recommendation from the Chair of the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Georgia Tech "Class of 1969 Teaching Fellowship" program is designed for untenured assistant professors "who want to develop their full teaching potential". Teaching fellows meet weekly during one academic year, and develop innovative in-class activities aimed to improve students’ learning.

Excellence in Civil Engineering Education Fellowship, 2012

Dr. Arson was named ExCEEd 2012 Teaching Fellow (Excellence in Civil Engineering Education), after completing the ExCEEd Teaching Workshop at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, between the 22nd and the 27th of July 2012. This practicum provides engineering educators with an opportunity to improve their teaching abilities. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) funds eighty percent of the registration fees of the selected participants. Every year, a committee made of ExCEEd mentors selects about fifty applications, based on candidates’ needs, motivations and commitment. After graduation, teaching fellows are part of an education network across the United States, and usually serve as mentors for the following workshops.

Other Professional Honors

Georgia Tech Office of the Provost’s Emerging Leaders Program, 2021 -- 2022

Dr. Arson was selected to participate in the Georgia Tech Emerging Leaders Program, which is designed for associate and full professors who have attained tenure, and aims to strengthen a culture of community, establlish or enhance relationships among people across campus, and enable the collective creation of a leadership climate among all stakeholders. Candidates are selected based on an application packet upon nomination of their School Chair. Over the course of nine months, participants take part in several activities including a fall weekend workshop, monthly workshops, small-group work, and a 360-degree assessment. The program is a collaboration between the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research, the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact, and the Office of Graduate Education and Faculty Development.

ARMA Future Leader, 2013 -- 2016

Dr. Arson was selected to join the 2013 "Future Leaders Program" of the ARMA (American Rock Mechanics Association). The aim of the Future Leaders Program is to recognize a group of motivated younger ARMA members of outstanding promise to discuss issues and ideas for the development of ARMA and to become engaged in ARMA leadership. Future leaders serve on ARMA Symposium and other committees including organizing and chairing sessions at the symposium.

NSF ENHANCE Fellowship, 2012

Dr. Arson was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) ENHANCE Fellowship (“Enhance the Career of Female Faculty in Earthquake Engineering Research”). This award was granted after competitive and peer-reviewed examination of an application package comprising CV, research interests, teaching experience, essays and letters of recommendation. NSF ENHANCE is an international community of female faculty in earthquake engineering, communicating through a private website. The NSF ENHANCE Fellowship gives right to one-on-one and group mentoring via workshops, writing activities and personal advising.