Susan Reynolds

My research interests include structural analysis and design, historic preservation technology, and sustainable / integrated design approaches for buildings. The public relies on structural engineers to determine whether or not existing buildings remain safe for use over time. In addition to learning about today’s most advanced structural materials, engineering students should be well-versed in archaic building materials and methods to enable sensitive stewardship of our shared cultural heritage. Preservation is an inherently sustainable design approach to building, as it increases the structure’s life cycle and minimizes depletion of natural resources that comprise building materials.

Traditional engineering education is generally comprised of derivations of governing principles, computational examples, homework problems modeled on the in-class example, and written exams based closely on lecture material and homework assignments. My teaching philosophy combines traditional engineering course delivery with open-ended and design-based problems that are common in architectural pedagogy. I present abstract engineering concepts graphically during lecture, and draw heavily from my professional practice experience, linking the classroom content to real-world case studies. Most importantly, I try to create a classroom culture that is conducive to collaboration and peer-to-peer learning.

At Mines, I have taught the following courses: Structural Theory, Structural Preservation of Existing and Historic Buildings, Mechanics of Materials, Triumphs and Failures of the Brooklyn Bridge, Introduction to Construction Engineering, IDEAS I and II (Innovation and Discovery in Engineering, Arts, and Sciences), and Senior Design I and II. At John Cabot University, I have taught Statics. At Tuskegee University, I have taught Structures I, II, and III; Soils and Foundations; Construction Methods; Construction Safety; and Historic Preservation.