Karen Philbrick has been appointed the executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute as Rod Diridon retires. She is well qualified for this challenging role after working five years as MTI's research director leading three subcenters and directing more than 200 principal investigators for both agencies,. She oversaw the competitive selection of 122 research projects, and the production of more than 150 peer-reviewed research reports.
MTI is on the campus of San Jose State University.
MTI enjoys a well-documented reputation for providing practical, relevant surface
mobility research for legislators, public agencies, and others who can benefit
from peer-reviewed data. The Institute will continue on this path into the
future while also retaining its dedication to astute financial management,
transportation workforce development, and public information resources.
Benefiting the nation’s mobility, economy, environment, safety, and security
will always remain a priority.
Dr. Philbrick oversaw research that assessed the ATN industry -- the accomplishments, failures, lessons to date and prospects for commercial growth. The USDOT-funded report is to be released this fall.
Prior to joining the MTI team, Dr.
Philbrick was assistant director of the National Center for Intermodal
Transportation at the University of Denver working on operator fatigue issues. She
has extensive contacts in the Asian Pacific region. Recently she was reappointed
to the USDOT’s Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). She is active with the national Council of University
Transportation Centers (CUTC).
Dr. Philbrick did undergraduate
studies at CalState-Fresno, earned two masters degrees at Columbia, and a PhD
from the University of Denver.
