Rate My Professor Fan Zhang

Dr. Fan Zhang serves as Associate Professor and Construction Management Program Coordinator in the School of Construction and Design at the University of Southern Mississippi. She holds a Ph.D. in Construction Engineering Management from Oregon State University (2016) and an M.S. in Construction Management from the University of Kansas (2008). Her scholarly work centers on highway work zone safety, safety training, and the pedagogy of construction management. Key publications include "Highway Construction Work Zone Safety: Effectiveness of Traffic Control Devices" in the ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction (2017), "Impacts of Construction Work Zone Equipment and Operations on Vehicle Speeds" from the Proceedings of the 2016 Construction Research Congress, "Sustainable Recycling Approach: an Understanding of Designers’ and Contractors’ Recycling Responsibilities throughout the Life Cycle of Buildings in Two US Cities" in Sustainable Development (2012), "A Study on Assessing the Awareness of Heat-Related Illnesses in the Construction Industry" from the CI & CRC Joint Conference (2022), and "Analysis of a heat-related illness training program for industry workers" (2022). Additional works encompass "A Market Accessibility Study of The Inland Waterway System in Mississippi" (2021), "Determining Standard Cost Estimating Methods for Negotiating Engineering and Related Services Contracts" (2014), and "Subcontractor Involvement in LEED Building Projects" (2012).

Dr. Zhang joined the University of Southern Mississippi in 2016 as Assistant Professor and has advanced to Associate Professor. She teaches courses including AEC 254 Estimating I, AEC 258 Construction Planning and Scheduling, BCT 377 Construction Project Management, BCT 445 Soils and Foundations, and AEC 496 Internship. Recent grants include a $139,000 USDA Solid Waste Management Grant with Dr. Zhe Qiang for plastic waste management trainings targeting farmers in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana (2024), and a $74,959 U.S. Department of Labor Susan Harwood training grant with Drs. Salar Kamari and Mohsen Foroughi-Sabzevar for lithium-ion battery safety training in construction (2024). She is affiliated with the American Society of Civil Engineers and Sigma Lambda Chi, and has participated in the ACUE Faculty Development Institute. Her initiatives support student achievements in national competitions and internships, such as with Yates Construction, enhancing practical training and industry connections in construction management.