About

Governing Structure

Executive Committee

The seven-member Executive Committee (EC) is responsible for setting strategy, approving budgets and making final decisions on Center project funding. It is chaired by the NEXTRANS Center Director (Dr. Srinivas Peeta) and includes co-directors from OSU (Dr. Rabi Mishalani) and UIUC (Dr. Ray Benekohal). It also includes two additional members from Purdue (Dr. John Schneider, Assistant Vice-President for Industry Research; Dr. Darcy Bullock, JTRP Associate Director) and one each from OSU (Dr. Mark McCord) and UIUC (Dr. Imad Al-Qadi, ICT Director). The Executive Committee meets several times a year as required by the Center’s programs and activities.

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council (AC) provides strategic and programmatic guidance for the NEXTRANS Center. It fosters vital links between the Center and the transportation community at large, and ensure that activities and goals are synergistic with regional and national needs and of value to the stakeholders. The INDOT Commissioner chairs the Advisory Council.

Center Staff

The Center’s staff consists of the NEXTRANS Center Managing Director, two Research Associates, Communications Coordinator, and Secretary. Together with the Center Director, they represent the Center’s administration.

The Center Director is responsible for overall Center operation in collaboration with the Executive Committee and Advisory Council. His broad duties include multiparty coordination, council/committee meeting administration, external representation, fund management, programs administration, and sustainability assurance.

The Managing Director provides day-to-day supervision of the NEXTRANS Center staff and operation, oversees the delivery of the Center’s research and education programs and outreach activities, and facilitates coordination between various internal and external organizational partners and entities.

The Communications Coordinator writes and designs all newsletters, annual reports, and promotional materials; maintains and updates the NEXTRANS Center website; and coordinates outreach and educational programs.

The Center’s Research Associates complement the large number of the NEXTRANS Center faculty and students by identifying and coordinating research and outreach opportunities consistent with the Center vision/theme and working with faculty members to develop proposals for soliciting external funds.

The Secretary supports administrative, programmatic, and reception duties; assists in planning meetings and events; and interfaces with Discovery Park Business Office for NEXTRANS business.

Purdue University Discovery Park

The Center Director reports to the Executive Director of Purdue’s Discovery Park, which provides administrative and fiduciary oversight on behalf of Purdue University.