Concrete Industry Management Faculty Earns International Honor

Dr. Feraidon Ataie, coordinator and faculty for the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program at Chico State was recently named ASTM International Professor of the Year. The recognition notes his exemplary use of ASTM standards in the classroom.

Chico State’s CIM program is one of only four in the nation. The CIM program at Chico State combines concrete technology with business administration to produce quality graduates for the concrete industry.

The program benefits greatly from the support of industry and is a leader in partnerships between enterprise and education at Chico State. A key part of the industry support is the Chico CIM Patrons.

“I have worked closely with Feraidon since 2014. Besides educating CIM students about concrete in the classroom, Dr. Ataie has developed into a leader within our industry,” said Dana Davis, President of Teichert Materials and Chico CIM Patron in a letter of support for the ASTM Professor of the Year nomination.

Under Feraidon’s leadership, the CIM program has improved its curriculum by adding new courses and embedding related industry standards and guidelines into the curriculum. His efforts ensure graduates have a solid understanding of industry standards, including the essential role that ASTM standards provide the industry.

“Our industry standards and guidelines such as those developed and published by ASTM, ACI, NRMCA, PCI, and NPCA are the core of the CIM program’s curriculum. I am not aware of any other degree program related to our industry that incorporates this many industry standards and guidelines in their undergraduate curricula as we do in CIM. The ASTM standards related to the concrete industry are widely used on daily basis in concrete production and concrete construction. Therefore, understanding these ASTM standards are essential for our students. So, it is vital for us to educate our students about these standards so that they are well prepared for real-world situation when they graduate,” said Feraidon Ataie. “I am so honored to have been nominated and selected for this recognition. I want to thank Dana for nominating me for this award. Receiving this award highlights the CIM efforts in developing and maintaining a quality curriculum that meets our student needs and serves our industry demand.”

In addition to the professional achievement that comes with this recognition, both Feraidon and the university will receive a cash award from ASTM.

Learn more about the CIM Program at Chico State.