SW New Mexico News

Qianyun (Gloria) Zhang, an assistant professor in the civil engineering department at New Mexico State University (NMSU), has been named the first recipient of the Aggie Construction Innovator of the Year Award. This award is given by the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at NMSU's Arrowhead Center to honor faculty members who show exceptional leadership, creativity, and impact in construction.

The award is presented by the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints program, a key initiative of the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship. The program aims to accelerate business growth through innovative construction technologies and provides NMSU civil engineering students with opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills.

Named after Mike Hunt, vice chairman of the board of directors for Hunt Companies, this program encourages groundbreaking research and sustainable building practices. Recipients of this award have made significant contributions by developing novel construction processes that push traditional boundaries.

Zhang's work focuses on structural health monitoring, advanced materials research, and data-driven construction solutions. Her commitment to mentorship and student engagement enhances her research impact and inspires future engineers and entrepreneurs.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Aggie Construction Innovator of the Year Award,” Zhang said. “The Mike Hunt Construction Sprints program has fostered an environment where ideas flourish and students learn to become tomorrow’s leaders in construction technology. I’m grateful for this support and look forward to continuing our work at Z-Lab, where we strive to push the boundaries of what’s possible in civil engineering and beyond.”

Zhang founded Z-Lab within NMSU's civil engineering department. The lab explores transformative solutions to modern engineering challenges, focusing on structural health monitoring, functional materials, structures, machine learning, and data science. Her research has been featured in entrepreneurship events like the Bold Idea Challenge and Aggie Shark Tank.

“At the Hunt Center, we believe innovation is the driving force behind both economic prosperity and sustainable progress,” said Carlos Murguia, director of the Hunt Center. “The Mike Hunt Construction Sprints program is designed to empower our civil engineering students to think boldly, collaborate effectively and solve real-world challenges. Seeing its impact come to life through extraordinary faculty achievements such as Dr. Zhang’s is a testament to the program’s success and the future of innovative construction at NMSU.”

A formal presentation will occur on February 27 during NMSU's Hult Prize Student Idea Pitch competition. This event will highlight civil engineering students with groundbreaking ideas in construction technologies aimed at addressing global challenges while fostering entrepreneurship.

Free tickets for this event are available online.

For more information about the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship, contact Carlos Murguia or visit their website.