Retirement Reception honoring Dr. James (Jim) Laier
Posted on May 17, 2018 by Engineering
Please join us for a Retirement Reception honoring Dr. James (Jim) Laier on Thursday,
May 24, 2018 at the Faculty Club from 4pm – 6pm. Please RSVP at 460-6565 by May 24,
2018.
James E. Laier, Ph.D., is retiring from USA (effective at the end of Spring semester 2018). He served as Associate Dean in the College of Engineering from 2005 to 2016 and as Associate Professor in Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering from 2016 to 2018. He taught Foundation Design to Civil Engineering students (as an adjunct) from 1987 until 2005, positively impacting an entire generation of civil engineering professionals in our community. Dr. Laier was the founder and CEO of Southern Earth Sciences, Inc., a local geotechnical engineering firm that he started in his garage in 1975. With Jim at the helm and Dianna providing both support and guidance, Southern Earth Sciences grew into a regional engineering firm with nine locations in three states. Southern Earth Sciences was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2008. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from The Citadel in 1964, a M.S. in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering from West Virginia University in 1965, and his Ph.D. in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Florida in 1972. Jim began his professional career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Dr. Laier is a registered Professional Engineer in 11 states. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the ABET engineering accreditation team, a member of Tau Beta Pi (the Engineering Honor Society), and a member of many professional organizations (including ACIL, AGC, and NSPE). He was inducted into the West Virginia University Academy of Civil Engineers in 2008 and was named Engineer of the Year in 2010 by the Mobile Area Council of Engineers. His numerous publication credits include being co-editor of the book “From Research to Practice in Geotechnical Engineering”, and he holds two U.S. Letters Patents. Throughout his career he has been very supportive of many civic and charitable causes including membership of the USA Research Park Board of Trustees, the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, the Mobile West Rotary Club, the USA Wesley Foundation, the USA Jaguar Athletic Club, the USA Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative, and the St. Luke’s Episcopal School Board of Trustees. Jim recently retired from his positions as a board member of MAWSS after serving multiple terms, and as a board member for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). In retirement, he and Diana plan on traveling, including a trip to Australia, as well as spending time with their three daughters and sons-in-law, six grandchildren and two great granddaughters.