Shihui Shen, distinguished professor of rail transportation engineering at Penn State Altoona.
ALTOONA, Pa. — Shihui Shen, professor of rail transportation engineering, has been conferred the status of distinguished professor, the highest professorial merit at the University. Shen is one of 10 Penn State faculty members to be named a distinguished professor in 2025.
“Being named a distinguished professor is an incredible honor — one that fills me with deep gratitude and a profound sense of responsibility,” said Shen. “More than just a title, this distinction serves as a reminder to continue contributing to the university, my students, and the broader engineering community.”
Shen earned her doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in transportation engineering from Southeast University in China. Before joining Penn State Altoona in 2013, she spent six years as an assistant professor at Washington State University.
Shen is a leading scholar in railroad and highway infrastructure and materials. She said the ability to make tangible contributions and impacts in the field fuels her passion for engineering, whether through developing innovative solutions for transportation infrastructure, mentoring students, promoting women engineers, or collaborating with colleagues to push the boundaries of research.
However, she said, there is a larger motivation for her.
“Beyond technical advancements, what truly keeps me going is the success of my students. Witnessing their growth — whether it’s seeing them apply their knowledge in research, land their dream jobs, or develop into confident engineers — is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. Their curiosity, ambition, and resilience remind me why I chose this profession in the first place.”
The title of distinguished professor, established by the Office of the President, recognizes the academic contributions of current full-time faculty members who hold the rank of professor. Distinguished professors are acknowledged leaders in their fields of research or creative activity; demonstrate significant leadership in raising the University's standards in teaching, research or creative activity and service; and exhibit excellent teaching skills.
“I see this recognition not as a final achievement but as a milestone along a much longer journey, one filled with opportunities to learn, explore, and give back,” says Shen.
Shen’s work has earned national and international recognition by securing over $13 million in competitive research funding, authoring more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers and technical reports, contributing to national design standards and specifications, and leading transformative projects such as the $6.87 million Federal Railroad Administration-funded Rail Center for Research Enhancing Short-Line Transportation (Rail CREST). This three-year initiative focuses on developing and deploying cost-effective technologies to enhance the safety, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of short-line and regional railroads.
“This achievement is not mine alone. It belongs to the many individuals who have supported and shaped my journey including colleagues, mentors, and the leadership at Penn State Altoona, the College of Engineering and the University as a whole, whose guidance and resources have been invaluable," Shen said. "It belongs to my research team — past and present graduate students, undergraduates and postdoctoral scholars — whose dedication and passion drive our collective mission forward. Their hard work and enthusiasm inspire me every day, and I share this honor with each of them.”
Shen also recognized the support of her family, especially her husband, Hai Huang, who is also an rail transportation engineering faculty member at Penn State Altoona.
A Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Shen is a recognized leader in transportation infrastructure research. She currently serves as chair of the ASCE Bituminous Materials and Construction Committee and has received numerous prestigious honors. Her accolades include Penn State Altoona's Outstanding Achievement in Research and Creative Activity Award, multiple best paper and best poster awards at national and international conferences and invitations as a keynote speaker at globally renowned events, including the Transportation Research Congress and the International Conference on Transportation Infrastructure and Materials.
With a career dedicated to advancing transportation engineering through innovation, mentorship and collaboration, Shen continues to shape the future of rail and highway infrastructure while inspiring the next generation of engineers.
Shen is the sixth faculty member at Penn State Altoona to receive this honor. Nicholas Rowland was named distinguished professor of sociology in 2024; Grant Risha, mechanical engineering, in 2023; Rebecca Strzelec, visual arts, in 2019; Brian Black, history and environmental studies in 2017; and Sandra Petrulionis, English and American studies, in 2014.
