DFI Announces New Student Engagement Committee
Chris Woods Named Chair
Hawthorne, N.J. (March 5, 2024): DFI announces the formation of a Student Engagement Committee. The committee, with support from DFI Educational Trust, will develop consistent student opportunities and experiences that raise awareness of career opportunities in our industry, grow interest in DFI and provide members the opportunity to interact with prospective employees at school and DFI events.
“DFI recognizes that the future of our industry depends upon our ability to encourage and engage promising individuals to consider careers in the deep foundations industry,” says Theresa Engler, DFI executive director. “This new, enthusiastic committee is taking charge of the recently launched University Ambassador Program as well as student activities at DFI and industry events, and more to follow.”
The chair of the Student Engagement Committee is Chris Woods, P.E., G.E., BC.GE, C.Eng. MIEI, F.ASCE, LEED AP BD+C, vice president at Densification, Inc. Prior to joining Densification, Woods spent over 13 years as a geotechnical consultant practicing throughout the eastern seaboard of the United States, as well as overseas. He has more than 20 years of experience in geotechnical engineering, with a particular specialization in ground improvement; he has additionally been involved with the design of shallow and deep foundation systems, evaluation of earth slope stability, design of retaining walls, geotechnical instrumentation monitoring and extensive construction oversight.
Woods is deeply involved with Deep Foundations Institute (DFI), serving as technical program co-chair of the 2022 DFI Annual Conference, a founding member of the DFI Podcast Committee and one of the “Live at Game Day” series hosts, a member of the DFI Journal Editorial Board, and a long-standing member of the Ground Improvement committee. He is also an active member of the ASCE Foundation Standard Committee and has been an active member of the ASCE and the Geo-Institute, serving as a member of the Geostrata Editorial Board since 2015, and as a member and leader of the Soil Improvement Committee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University and his master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from Virginia Tech.
Learn more about the Student Engagement Committee at https://dfi.org/communities/student-engagement/
About the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI): DFI (www.dfi.org) is an international association of contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, academics and owners in the deep foundations industry. Our multidisciplinary membership creates a consensus voice and a common vision for continual improvement in the planning, design and construction of deep foundations and excavations. We bring together members for networking, education, communication and collaboration. With our members, we promote the advancement of the deep foundations industry through technical committees, educational programs and conferences, publications, research, government relations and outreach. DFI has more than 4,000 members worldwide.
