The state of Mississippi adopted a new Strategic Highway Safety Plan earlier this year and along with it, its vision, “Toward Zero Deaths.” “My time with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, all of which has been in Traffic Engineering Division, has proven both professionally and personally rewarding.” “I was fortunate to have been able to work on a number of interesting and significant transportation projects throughout the state,” Sullivan said. “He is a great role model for our students and recent graduates.”Īmong his stellar career, Sullivan consider finding MDOT employment to be among his greatest achievements. “James has had a great career since graduating from Ole Miss,” he said.

Yacoub “Jacob” Najjar, chair and professor of civil engineering, agreed. “They frequently lecture civil engineering students at ITE chapter meetings organized by the student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.” “I appreciate the timely feedback and continuous encouragement that James and other engineering alumni provide to enhance our academic program,” Uddin said. Sullivan was the contract supervisor of this research project and Uddin was the project principal investigator from 2008 to 2010. “This project received the AASHTO “Sweet Sixteen” Award for MDOT, putting it among the nation’s top 16 state DOTs.” “My direct interaction with James was through the MDOT-funded Oxford roundabout project,” said Waheed Uddin, UM professor of civil engineering and CAIT director.

Several other alumni serve with Sullivan in the division, including Acey Roberts, Kevin McMillon, Celina Sumrall, Amrik Singh, Brian Hovanec, Eames Henley and Wes Dean, the deputy chief engineer in operations. MDOT’s Traffic Engineering Division has been a leading supporter of the transportation engineering program within the Department of Civil Engineering. Times of study with fellow students provided many fond memories as well.” “Each of these professors, in addition to providing instruction, challenged and encouraged me in their own unique ways – and at times entertained. “My most memorable civil engineering classes at Ole Miss were those with Dr. Sullivan said he enjoyed his days on campus. The division also manufactures highway signs, maintains the interstate highway signs and provides traffic signal maintenance for certain districts. Sullivan’s area manages the website, traffic alerts via email and social media, MDOTTraffic mobile apps, the 511 traveler information phone service and other ITS deployments. “The division is also responsible for administering the Highway Safety Program and the Intelligent Transportation Systems program, the latter of which focuses on strategies to improve operational efficiency and traveler information.” “The Traffic Engineering Division is responsible for providing technical guidance on the use of traffic control devices – signs, signals and markings – on the state’s highways,” said Sullivan, who earned his bachelor’s degree in 1986. The state traffic engineer, he stays busy overseeing all aspects of the traffic engineering division. Sullivan began working for the Mississippi Department of Transportation 11 years ago, the University of Mississippi civil engineering alumnus has continued to rise through the organization’s ranks.

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