Oregon State University has named a new director to its School of Civil and Construction Engineering.

Scott Ashford, a 1983 OSU alumnus and former CH2M Hill engineer, received his doctoral degree in geotechnical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and has been a professor at the University of California, San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering since 1996.

Ashford has taught and conducted research in many parts of the world - studying California highways, seismic hazards in Thailand and landslides in Sri Lanka.

He will continue current research projects at OSU, including development on a mobile structures-testing lab that can be transported to job sites and studies into the relationship between buildings, foundations and the soils they sit on.

One of Ashford's main goals will be to expand the graduate programs in both civil engineering and construction engineering management. He also plans to expand OSU's new master of engineering degree, which can be obtained in one year.

"Students today need to know that a master's degree helps lead to a successful career," Ashford said. "I believe every single one of our students should consider staying on to get a master's degree before entering the job market."

Ashford will also oversee the renovation of historic Apperson Hall, which will house key components of the new school.

"Scott is a perfect match with the OSU team, and his leadership will help us move both the new School of Civil and Construction Engineering and the college as a whole to the next level," said Ron Adams, dean of the OSU College of Engineering.

Hailing from Salem where his family has owned a farm for four generations, Ashford is happy to be returning to the Willamette Valley.

"It gives me an opportunity to move back home and contribute to the state," he said.

His wife, Meleah, formerly of La Grande, will join him here in a year, after their 16-year-old son finishes high school in San Diego. His oldest son, 19, is studying mechanical engineering at the University of California, Davis.

After spending 10 years in sunny San Diego, mid-valley weather might take some getting used to. When he drove up for an interview at OSU in November it was raining so hard he had trouble seeing the freeway.

"I had to keep telling myself I was doing the right thing," he joked.

OSU News Service contributed to this report.