Education:

BS in Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, China, 1998

MS in Structural Engineering, Tianjin University, China, 2001

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2006

Research Interests:
Soil-Structure Interaction in Bridges and Buildings, Constitutive Modeling of Infrastructure Materials, Finite Element Analysis, Soil Liquefaction, and Seismic Behavior of Bridges.

Amanda Bao, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety Department.  She joined RIT in 2010.  Prior to her position at RIT, she was a bridge structural engineer at Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. and Michael Baker Corporation.  She is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado, United States.  At RIT, she teaches structural engineering courses including structural analysis, dynamics, structural loads and systems, steel design, reinforced concrete design and timber design.  Her research interests include experimental and numerical modeling of infrastructure materials, soil-structure interaction, seismic behavior of bridges and soil liquefaction.  She is an active member in American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Ph.D., Ecole Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications, Paris, France

Miguel Bazdresch, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Electrical, Computer & Telecommunications Engineering Technology Department having joined RIT in August, 2012.  Previously he was an associate professor at ITESO University, Mexico.  His research interests include: digital communications, wireless communications, error-control coding, space-time coding and hardware implementation of communication algorithms.  Bazdresch is an active member of IEEE. 

Degrees/Credentials

2007 – M. Div. – St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry 
2001 – Ph.D. Human Resource Management – LaSalle University 
1993 – M.S. Packaging Science – Rochester Institute of Technology 
1976 – B.S. in Business Administration – SUNY Empire State College 

Current Role/Title/Years at RIT: Current Roles: Assistant Professor, Center Professional Development (CPD) and NTID Communication Trainer and Presenter, Lean Six Sigma Curriculum Program Developer and Instructor; Years at RIT: 19. 

Areas of Interest, Scholarly Work, Research—
2011 Co- authored journal article with Dr. Frank Johnston: “How Positive Psychology Addresses Anxiety and Stress in a Cultural Diverse Workforce,” at the American Psychological Association Conference in Washington, D.C.
2011 Co-presented with Dr. Frank Johnston at the New York State Psychological Association Conference “How Positive Psychology Addresses a Culturally Diverse Workforce” in NYC.  – This highly recognized presentation showed how performance issues can be solved for the culturally diverse worker by identifying the employee’s strengths, improving communication, and by instituting a Lean Six Sigma methodology.
2010 Published Training Manual System: Leadership Development Curriculum from the Ground Level – This train-the-trainer manual system assists employment agencies for transitioning ex-felons back into the workforce training them using 15 Lean Six Sigma problem–solving tools. 
2008 Published a Substance Abuse Article for a Monroe County Non-Profit Agency.
2001 – 1995 Published ten articles regarding Supply Chain Management in nationally recognized packaging trade magazines.
1994 Published Textbook Author: Packaging Sales: An Innovative Problem-Solving Approach – Top Ten Bestseller List on IOPP publishing.
Boards and Professional Affiliations—

• Rochester Leadership Institute Member
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt with a Concentration in Human Engineering
• Certified NYS OASAS Approved Educational Trainer and Provider #0522 for Workforce Development
• Authorized OSHA General Industry Outreach Trainer
• Educational Committee Member for the Rochester Area Group of Psychotherapists

Honors and Awards

• 2011 Rochester Institute of Technology’s Eisenhart Teaching Nomination – RIT’s highest teaching award
• American Management Association Trained Instructional Designer Certificate
• American Management Association Train – the – Trainer Certificate
• Keynote Speaker at the New York State Corrections Conference