Alumnus to conclude Engineering Seminar Series

Written by Ruth Wendlandt on |
Lavern Nall
Lavern Nall, a 1972 civil engineering graduate, will present at the final virtual event of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science Engineering Seminar Series.
Seminar Series

University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumnus Lavern Nall, a 1972 civil engineering graduate, will present at the final virtual event of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science Engineering Seminar Series on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Nall, who is the president of Strass Maguire and Associates, a civil and structural engineering consulting company in Mequon, Wisconsin, will discuss the topic of Protection of Buildings from the Construction of Milwaukee’s “Deep Tunnel.” Nall will draw on his nearly 50-year engineering career to highlight different aspects of large infrastructure from identification of building damages caused by tunnel construction to preconstruction inspections.

“My attitude has always been we have to learn from each other,” he said. “We have to team up. A part of this idea of teaming up is to let other people know what we have observed and understand. It’s to help other professionals understand we are working with a lot of different disciplines.”

Nall is licensed as a structural engineer in 19 states and the District of Columbia. He credits his education at UW-Platteville and his involvement in campus organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers and being an editor of the Geode, for giving him the foundation to succeed.

“You are not only getting a diploma, you are getting a good base that will help you in the future,” Nall said. “The communication skills I learned at UW-Platteville – being able to get people to work together and being able to communicate – even freshman chemistry has helped me.”

UW-Platteville led Nall to become a lifelong learner. He continued his educational journey at UW-Madison where he earned his master’s degree in structural engineering.

“I continue to learn more about engineering,” he said. “I’m still studying. I’m relearning stuff and learning new methods of analysis. I want to continue learning.”

As Nall looks forward to speaking to the next generation of Pioneers, he still remembers some of his own favorite memories from his college days: gatherings with friends to whitewashing and lighting the “M”. UW-Platteville is even a family affair, with Nall’s younger brother and two of his nephews all graduating with engineering degrees.

“I want to give back. UW-Platteville has been good to me and my family,” he said. “UW-Platteville is a great university. It has done a lot not only in the region of Wisconsin, but engineers from UW-Platteville can go out and work nationally and internationally. The education I received from UW-Platteville, getting engineers together and helping each other with a team spirit, it has helped in my career at Strass Maguire and Associates.”

To register and learn more about the EMS Engineering Seminar Series, visit www.uwplatt.edu/EMS-engineering-seminar-series.