Story by Kayla VonBurg-King
Mirabel Nkanor has charted a path marked by academic excellence and a fervent dedication to civil engineering. A 2023 graduate with over a 3.9 GPA, Nkanor’s journey is a testament to her resilience and commitment to making a lasting impact in her field. She is now pursuing a M.S. in civil engineering with an emphasis in construction engineering at North Carolina State University.
Nkanor, who majored in civil engineering with a minor in mathematics, not only excelled academically as an undergraduate but has also garnered numerous accolades. Her achievements include prestigious scholarships from the Institute of Transportation Engineers and the National Center for Transportation Infrastructure Durability & Life-Extension, totaling $8,000. These accolades are a reflection of her hard work and the high regard in which she is held by her peers and professors.
(Submitted photo)
Reflecting on her undergraduate experience at Ole Miss, Nkanor shared, “My classes were really interesting. I loved all of them. The teachers took the time to break it down and provided lots of homework and examples, which made it easy to understand.” Despite the challenges, including a demanding senior design class, she views her time at the university positively, noting that these experiences prepared her well for the rigors of graduate studies.
Nkanor’s transition to North Carolina State University for graduate school was greatly aided by her role as an undergraduate research assistant in the NCDOT Project 2023-20. This project, led by Dr. Amir Molan, UM assistant professor of civil engineering, included collaboration with NCSU faculty. Through this project, she met Dr. William Rasdorf, professor of civil, construction, and environmental engineering at NCSU, who is now her graduate advisor.
Looking ahead, Nkanor is excited about her current internship with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, where she focuses on structural engineering, specifically the analysis and design of existing bridges. “It is a step in the right direction for me,” said Nkanor. “I’ve always wanted to do structural design and analysis. This internship allows me to apply the practical aspects of what I’ve learned in school.”
Her long-term professional goals are inspired by the challenges she observed in her home country. “There is a lot of faulty transportation infrastructure in Nigeria; I believe anything I work on should not just be for a short lifespan but should remain effective and serve the public for a long time,” Nkanor explained. “These projects cost millions of dollars, so I am committed to giving my best effort to everything I am tasked with.”
Nkanor credits her success to the collaborative environment and the support system at UM. “Being a part of Dr. Molan’s research team gave me a good idea of what to expect in graduate school,” she remarked. “Writing my Masters’ thesis is a piece of cake because I’ve done a lot of what a thesis entails already. My prior research experience made me better understand how to go about research methodology and process.”
As she continues her educational journey and steps into her professional role, Nkanor remains focused on making a meaningful contribution to civil engineering, aiming to improve infrastructure and lives in communities around the world.