Maria Lehman elected to National Academy of Construction
By Peter Murphy
Published November 3, 2022
Maria Lehman (BS ’81), civil engineering alumna, president-elect of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and director of U.S. infrastructure for GHD Inc., has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Construction’s (NAC) 2022 class.
According to the NAC, Lehman is a “talented leader and executive with outstanding contributions in transportation and facilities, environmental assessment, design and management in both public and private sectors.”
The NAC class of 2022 welcomes 34 industry practitioners from several different sectors of the industry, including, academics, researchers, owners, contractors, designers, lawyers and consultants. Election to the Academy honors Lehman’s contributions, and provides her with a chance to give back to the industry and nation through NAC participation.
“Our 2022 class represents dedication to the industry and significant contributions to improving the built environment,” says Wayne Crew, president and CEO of the NAC. “Maria Lehman is an industry leader whose experience encompasses all spectrums of design, engineering and business. Her understanding of the industry and her sharing of expertise are advantages she provides to all stakeholders. We welcome her.”
Maria Lehman
In addition to her role as director of U.S. infrastructure at GHD, Lehman also serves on the company’s board of directors. Before joining GHD Inc., Lehman was vice president for critical infrastructure at Parsons. She worked as the chief operating officer and executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority and served as commissioner of public works for Erie County, N.Y. Lehman has 40 years of diverse, multidisciplinary technical and leadership experience. She has served in various leadership roles on hundreds of projects that require scoping, planning, environmental studies, preparation of plans, specifications and estimates, construction management and operations and maintenance.
Lehman earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UB, magna cum laude. Over the course of her career, she has received various honors, including, ASCE’s President’s Medal, UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Alumna of the Year, and was recently named a “Top 100 Women of Influence” according to Buffalo Business First.
Lehman served on the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council for over 10 years and continues to be involved with the University at Buffalo.