Fueled by philanthropy: Construction Engineering and Management program builds opportunities

Strong donor support and industry partnerships bolster a plethora of opportunities offered in San Diego State University’s J.R. Filanc Construction Engineering Management (CEM program), preparing students with a competitive edge and industry knowledge as they enter the workforce. 

“The CEM program at SDSU has provided me with countless opportunities to begin my young professional career and to become a part of a highly supportive community. … I have had many off campus opportunities, which includes multiple internship positions and participation in the annual Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Competition,” said Tristen Montalvo-Benedetto, a construction management student and SDSU chapter president of the AGC and Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). 

Established in 2008, the hands-on program is designed  to promote student success, and create a pipeline to the regional construction workforce. 

Harper Construction Company is among several philanthropic supporters that dedicate their time and resources to enriching the engineering management program. Their work with College of Engineering faculty and staff allows students to gain the training needed for construction engineering and management roles upon graduation. 

“Our donors' support is essential to the success of the program as we can continue to be competitive with other schools, attract the best faculty to enhance our students' education, and offer hands-on experiences that would not be available without their support,” said AGC Paul S. Roel Chair in Construction Engineering and Management Professor Thais Alves. 

Harper, a family-owned and San Diego-based firm, has hired SDSU alumni, and has helped establish faculty positions, student internships, and fieldwork opportunities.

Harper Construction CEO and President and Associated General Contractors (AGC) Board Member Jeff Harper, and founder and Chairman Ron Harper have a strong connection to the San Diego community. Longstanding Aztec sports fan Jeff Harper and his family became interested in finding ways to support student success and the development of the San Diego economy. 

“I enjoy that it appears there's some more training all the way around (at SDSU), to get more of a complete skill set involved, which is what we need for the workforce, and particularly what we're doing as a general contractor,” said Harper.

With the preparation the CEM program provides, students graduate with specific qualifications required to lead government-funded engineering projects. Some of these projects include F-35 aircraft hangars, training facilities, and recruitment barracks – useful skills in a county and state with numerous military bases. 

In addition, the company helped support the Jim Ryan Chair in Construction Management, which expanded the Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering Department to construction management degrees. Moreover, the endowed chair fund bolsters a high-level faculty position in the program. 

Preparing students

“The CEM program is particularly appealing to us as it trains students for, not just the engineering aspect of it but also everything else that’s involved such as letter writing, negotiations, and contracts,” said Jeff Harper. 

Alves sees firsthand how the SDSU engineers are ready  for real-world engineering roles upon graduation. 

“Being located in a metropolitan area, we have unparalleled access to active construction sites and networking opportunities that usually translate into paid internships and later, high-paying, fulfilling jobs,” said Alves. 

The philanthropic support for the program also allows student engineers to participate in field trips to public and private contracting organizations, site visits to ongoing projects as part of course assignments, and networking events that feature guest speakers from industry. 

“There are constant opportunities to attend information sessions from industry professionals, receive scholarships, and ultimately be highly qualified for the full-time positions upon graduating. The CEM program is also a very close knit community, where most students know each other, and are able to build long lasting relationships that will carry over to the field and their future careers,” said Montalvo-Benedetto. 

The donor impact is far-reaching and has gained momentum from local organizations and industry leaders on the AGC San Diego Board of Directors. Supporters such as President of Marathon Construction Company, Mike Furby; CEO of J.R. Filanc Construction Company, Mark Filanc; CEO of AGC, San Diego Chapter, Eddie Sprecco; Executive Vice President of AGC, Jim Ryan, Austin Cameron, have each played a significant role in the expansion of the program.

To provide a gift to support the College of Engineering, contact Senior Director of Development Kate Carinder at [email protected].