SS ISTL External Advisory Board convenes to summarize recent developments and tackle current challenges
By CSEE staff
Published May 25, 2026
On May 13 and 14, 2026, the Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics (SS ISTL) External Advisory Board (EAB) gathered for its bi-annual meeting. The two-day event featured a full agenda for the diverse set of stakeholders.
Key topics included updates from SS ISTL-affiliated deans from the Schools of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Kemper Lewis and the School of Management, Ananth Iyer, as well as insights from Alan Rabideau, outgoing chair of the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, and the incoming chair Amjad Aref.
The agenda also recognized the contributions of the outgoing SS ISTL Director Andrew Whittaker and welcomes his successor, Ziqi Song. The leadership transition will take effect on July 1, 2026.
The meeting also included a presentation on the upcoming fiscal year budget, a discussion about the current state of the Institute and a preview of the planned Open House event, “Transportation Day,” which will highlight our SS ISTL’s new lab spaces. This event is scheduled for August ahead of the forthcoming fall semester.
Attendees also received research updates from engineering and management faculty and graduate students. Additional activities included tours of the Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Laboratory, the Sustainable Urban Mobility and Intelligent Transportation lab and the Transportation Research and Visualization Laboratory. The agenda also included updates on the Sustainable Transportation and Logistics graduate program and an executive session and reception to summarize primary outcomes from the meeting.
The SS ISTL EAB includes industry professionals from a variety of sectors. Meeting attendees represented organizations from the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition, Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, National Grid, New York State Department of Transportation, and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, along with retired professionals from the freight and logistics sectors and board leadership from Stephen Still.
The EAB will meet again in fall 2026 to discuss progress on SS ISTL research and education priorities. The meeting will also include a visit to the UB Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Enclosure, which is expected to be completed and open by that time.
