Professor James Kaklamanos Named to New Hampshire Union Leader’s 40 Under Forty

Merrimack Professor James Kaklamanos was recently named as a member of the New Hampshire Union Leader's 40 Under Forty Class of 2022. This honor was granted in recognition of his impressive work as a civil engineering professional, including teaching, research and service to the local community.

James Kaklamanos, associate professor of civil engineering, has been selected as a member of the New Hampshire Union Leader’s prestigious 40 Under Forty Class of 2022. 40 Under Forty honorees are chosen as emerging leaders whose contributions to their community have helped make New Hampshire a better place. Professor Kaklamanos, a longtime resident of Nashua, New Hampshire, was selected to receive this commendation from a large pool of well-qualified nominees.

“Being named to this year’s 40 Under Forty class is a significant honor. I was truly humbled to receive this accolade, and I am excited for the positive light that it will shine on my achievements and the work I’ve accomplished at Merrimack. Past honorees include well known and highly respected Granite Staters, and I feel privileged to now be considered a part of that group,” he shares.

Professor Kaklamanos earned his Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from Tufts University and joined the Merrimack College faculty in 2012. He was selected for this award not only in recognition of his excellence in teaching, but also for his impactful research and numerous volunteer and service activities.

“As an engineering professor, I have three interrelated duties: educating and inspiring the next generation of engineering professionals; conducting research and contributing knowledge to the field; and engaging in service to the community and the profession as a whole,” stated Kaklamanos.

Professor Kaklamanos’ primary area of research focuses upon the prediction of earthquake-induced ground motion, an important component of any seismic hazard analysis. With a greater understanding of the level of ground motion expected during earthquakes, engineers will be better able to design earthquake-resistant structures, and ultimately improve sustainability by reducing the loss of life and property during earthquakes.

In addition, he currently serves as a faculty advisor to the College’s engineering honor society and has worked to develop and implement a tutoring and mentoring program for first-year students majoring in engineering and computer science, with the goal of promoting student achievement and retention in these fields. He is also a current member of a United States Geological Society working group tasked with improving the National Seismic Hazard Model in the eastern United States.

Professor Kaklamanos’ other recent accolades include recognition as a New Face in Geoengineering by the American Society of Civil Engineers Geo-Institute in 2020 and receiving the Boston Society of Civil Engineers College Educator Award in 2019. In March, he will be presented with an Early Career Educator Award by the U.S. Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research.

Professor Kaklamanos shares that one of the most rewarding aspects of his work is the ability to have a positive impact on his students. “Thinking back to my own days as a student, I was fortunate to benefit from a lot of people, including my teachers, mentors, and family, who really went out of their way to help me discover my calling as an engineer and educator. I now have the opportunity to pay that forward. Through the work that I do in teaching as well as my volunteer efforts and research, I try to emphasize the importance of engineering in our everyday lives.”

 

Professor Kaklamanos will officially receive his 40 Under Forty award during a special reception held in Concord, New Hampshire later this spring.

Learn More about Professor James Kaklamanos

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