Kaleigh Yost, the L. Robert and Mary L. Kimball Early Career Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, received the Younger Member Award from the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. She also was recently elected to serve on the board for the U.S. Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research. Credit: Poornima Tomy/Penn State
Yost receives earthquake institute award, elected to geotechnical faculty board
Apr 3, 2025
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kaleigh Yost, the L. Robert and Mary L. Kimball Early Career Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, recently received the Younger Member Award from the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). She also was elected to serve on a board representing geotechnical faculty across the U.S.
The award recognizes institute members who have made outstanding contributions to EERI in the early stages of their careers, especially contributions that have improved opportunities for and increased the impact of younger members within the institute, according to EERI.
Yost was recognized for her leadership on EERI committees as well as for her advocacy in spearheading outreach and mentoring opportunities for the institute’s student and younger members. Yost joined EERI as an undergraduate student in 2011 and has served in various capacities ever since. She currently serves as a co-chair of the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, as mentorship coordinator of the Younger Members Committee and advises the Penn State EERI student chapter.
Yost also was recently elected to serve a four-year term on the board of the U.S. Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research, where she is leading an effort to develop new training resources and opportunities for junior faculty.
Yost earned a doctorate in geotechnical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Her research expertise includes geotechnical site characterization, geotechnical and materials engineering and numerical methods for geohazard applications. She is currently examining soil liquefaction and levee stability under changing hydroclimatic conditions.
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