Dr. Bolhari joins the faculty as a Senior Instructor in the environmental engineering program at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder, College of Engineering & Applied Science. Dr. Bolhari is passionate about broadening participation in engineering through community-based participatory action research. Her research interests explore the boundaries of engineering and social science to understand evolution of sustainability mindset to sustainable practices utilizing quantitative and qualitative research methods. She was awarded an NSF EAGER grant which engaged the low socioeconomic Latinx citizen scientists of West Texas in a community resilience water quality research. Dr. Bolhari completed her Ph.D. in 2012 in environmental engineering from ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ State University to focus on treating chlorinated solvents in low permeability zones of sandy aquifers. After her PhD, she joined University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Denver as a lecturer for 4 years where she taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses and served on MSc/PhD theses committee of more than 15 students. Later, she moved to West Texas to establish an environmental engineering program from the ground up at the newly established department of engineering at Angelo State University. Dr. Bolhari was recognized by Tom Green County Commissioners’ Court in West Texas for her outstanding leadership, vision & development of the Future P4 Joint Emergency Training Facility Site Plan. She was awarded the Faculty Excellence in Research/Creative Endeavor Award of 2020 at Angelo State University. Furthermore, because of her commitment to excellence in effective teaching, she became an ASCE ExCEED (Excellence in Civil Engineering Education) teaching fellow. In her free time, she enjoys Boulder’s awe-inspiring hikes, gardening and oil painting.
With time and patience, the mulberry leaf becomes silk.
What has been your favorite work or personal project so far?
Mapping the distribution of spent shotgun shells & wads in public hunting lands.
Who would you most like to meet and why?Â
Angela Merkel. She is a scientist by heart & an authentic leader. She is analytical, critical and has a delicate sense of humor.
Your coworkers can always count on you to be …
Punctual and deliver well.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, which coworker would you want to organize your rescue party, and why?
JoAnn Silverstein. She is attentive, resourceful, detail-oriented, thoughtful and caring. All you need for a successful rescue mission!
One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on …
Traveling the world with my family.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Fruit tart & coffee.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I was a figure skater in high school.
What do you most like to do to unwind?
Gardening, landscaping & weeding the garden.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Everyday spent procrastinating is another day spent worrying about that thing. Do it now & move on with your life!