The 2023 Zephyr Rising Star Award was presented on January 10, 2023
The Zephyr Rising Star Award shall be given to an individual early in their career who embodies the Zephyr Principles, and embraces the Zephyr mission of advancing rigorous transportation and land use decision-making for the public good by advocating for and supporting improved travel analysis.
Criteria used for selection:
Nominees are considered by a three-person award committee and forwarded to the Zephyr Board for approval. Awards are made at the TRB Annual Meeting.
Congratulations to the winner of the 2022 Zephyr Rising Star Award: Dr. Tierra Bills
Professor Bills is an Assistant Prof at UCLA with a joint appointment in Engineering and Public Affairs (a feat in itself to be in two different Colleges). She has been doing rigorous, equity-driven travel demand modeling since her PhD in 2013. She’s passionate about outreach to underserved populations and transport impacts on disadvantaged communities. She serves on numerous committees to contribute her equity expertise (the TRB Equity Committee, to name one). In addition to brilliant, traditional academics (papers, NSF grants), she has testified to congress and has written a popular press blog, and is even highlighted in a coloring book.
The 2023 Outstanding Industry Contributor Committee was:
Board Facilitator: Amanda Stathopoulos
Note: This award was previously called the Outstanding Contributor Award. In 2023, the award was renamed and updated to focus on an individual early in their career.