Leading with purpose: Celebrating USask Engineering’s first female department head
On International Women’s Day, the University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Engineering proudly celebrates Dr. Lisa Feldman, the first female department head in the college’s history. Dr. Lisa Feldman, an accomplished engineer, researcher, and mentor.
March 8 marks International Women’s Day (IWD), a global celebration of the social, cultural, economic, and political achievements of women — and a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. In the spirit of IWD, USask Engineering is proud to celebrate Dr. Lisa Feldman, an accomplished engineer, researcher, and mentor.
Feldman made history on July 1, 2023, when she was appointed for a five-year term as Department Head of the Department of Civil, Geological, and Environmental Engineering — becoming the first female department head in USask Engineering’s history. This milestone speaks to her outstanding professional career and her commitment to the success of the next generation of engineers.
An international leader in structural engineering, Dr. Feldman’s expertise in reinforced concrete, masonry design, and structural rehabilitation has shaped building codes and engineering practices worldwide. Her work ensures the safety, sustainability, and resilience of infrastructure across Canada, the United States, and Europe — making a lasting impact on how bridges, buildings, and masonry structures are designed and built.
Her influence on global engineering standards is unmatched. She is a voting member of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) S304 committee for masonry design and holds a prominent role on the Technical Activities Committee (TAC) of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), one of the most influential bodies shaping international best practices. In fact, she is one of very few to simultaneously hold three key roles within ACI, including voting memberships on both ACI 318 - Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and ACI 562 - Code Requirements for Assessment, Repair and Rehabilitation of Existing Concrete Structures and Commentary, in addition to serving on TAC TAC which oversees codes and publications released by all ACI committees.
As Director of the Saskatchewan Centre for Masonry Design, Dr. Feldman leads cutting-edge research that advances masonry design standards and promotes sustainable construction practices. Collaborating with industry partners like the Canada Masonry Design Centre (CMDC) and the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute (SMI), her work has had a direct impact on design standards, making buildings safer and more environmentally responsible. From studying the mechanics of reinforced masonry to evaluating grout composition and structural performance, her research is positively impacting society.
Through her research work, she has been a vocal advocate for creating more inclusive, accessible, and supportive environments within engineering — particularly in fields where physically demanding tasks can present barriers depending on a person’s physical capacity. Under her leadership, her research teams embrace a collaborative, team-based approach that ensures all members can participate fully and thrive.
Dr. Feldman is actively engaged in mentoring the next generation of engineers. She is a visiting team member for accreditation visits for Canadian undergraduate engineering programs with Engineers Canada. Her commitment to teaching and mentorship is reflected in the success of her students, whose achievements have included three ACI Student Fellowship winners, four ACI Student Scholarship recipients, and two The Masonry Society (TMS) Outstanding Master’s Thesis awardees. Her dedication as an educator and mentor hasn’t gone unnoticed, her students have nominated her twice for USask’s graduate advising excellence awards.
Dr. Feldman’s professional accomplishments have been widely recognized. In 2023, she co-received the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) Casimir Gzowski Medal, and she is a Fellow of both the CSCE and ACI. In 2019, she was named an Outstanding Reviewer for the Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, Dr. Feldman’s leadership highlights the dedication, expertise, and impact just one person can have on future generations. Her role as the first female department head at USask Engineering is not just a milestone — it’s an inspiration. Through her research, industry collaborations, and passion for mentorship, she continues to shape a better future for the profession and society, exemplifying what it means to ‘Be What the World Needs’.