Mariana  Al Rihani

Hello everyone! My name is Mariana  Al Rihani, and I am excited to join the RUTA-HC Lab at UNM as a Master’s student in Civil Engineering/Transportation.

I was born and grew up in Jordan, where I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Highway and Bridges Engineering. Through my undergraduate studies, I became deeply interested in how transportation systems and infrastructure shape communities and improve people’s daily lives. This motivated me to continue my studies and explore research at the graduate level.

At UNM, I am still exploring everything. What excites me most is the chance to dive deeper into research—going beyond applying knowledge, to creating new ideas and solutions. I am especially interested in how infrastructure can be designed to be more sustainable and resilient in response to challenges like climate change and urban growth.

Outside of academics, I am the proud mother of a wonderful daughter named Daniella, who is two years and two months old. Balancing graduate school and motherhood is not always easy, but she is my biggest motivation and a constant source of inspiration. She reminds me of the importance of patience, hard work, and striving to make a positive impact.

In the RUTA-HC Lab, I hope to gain valuable experience in research, develop my skills, and collaborate with peers and mentors. My long-term goal is to grow as a researcher and contribute knowledge that can make a difference in civil engineering and in the communities that depend on it.

Thank you for reading a little about me—I look forward to this journey and to being part of the RUTA-HC community.