Rate My Professor James Ernzen

James Ernzen is an associate professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, where he also holds the Penta Building Group Professorship for Construction since 2019. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Ernzen’s career includes nearly a decade as a project engineer and construction manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, three years as deputy director of the Corps’ Concrete Laboratory, and three years as faculty in civil and mechanical engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He joined Arizona State University’s Del E. Webb School of Construction in 1996 and has taught construction management for over 28 years. He served two years as director of undergraduate studies and four years as director of the Del E. Webb School from 2005 to 2009. Additionally, he chairs the Construction Management PhD program and advises student organizations including the American Concrete Institute (ACI) student chapter and serves as co-adviser to the Fulton Schools student military veterans organization.

Ernzen’s research specializations include alternate project delivery methods such as design-build, project management and safety, and reinforced concrete design. His notable publications comprise “Performance in the Project Trailer: A Partnering Evaluation Tool” (2007, Transportation Research Record), “Compressing the Schedule with Design Build Plus Incentives: Is the Quality as Good?” (2003, Construction Research Congress), “Partnered Project Performance at the City of Phoenix” (2003, Construction Research Congress), and “Contractor-led Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plus Design-Build: Who is Watching the Quality?” (2002, Transportation Research Record). He holds a patent for the Smart Anchor Bolt (2004). Among his honors are the 2019 Penta Building Group Professor for Construction, recognitions from the Design-Build Institute of America and the American Institute of Steel Constructors, and the Lifetime Membership Award from the Arizona Chapter of the American Concrete Institute, where he has served as director. Ernzen has significantly influenced construction education by fostering industry-alumni connections, supporting student teams in national competitions, mentoring through professional events, and leading initiatives like student-led concrete projects that enhance campus facilities. His efforts have elevated the Del E. Webb School’s reputation and prepared graduates for industry leadership.