Leadership in Motion: Q&A with
MTI’s New Trustees

February 2026

MTI is proud to welcome our newest Trustees! Get to know these national industry leaders, their perspective on current and emerging challenges and trends, their plans for supporting MTI’s mission, and insights about career paths. In the Q&A below, they share candid reflections on leadership, innovation, workforce development, and the role research and policy play in shaping the future of transportation. 

Check out this press release for more information on their backgrounds and qualifications.

The responses below are listed alphabetically by last name.

Dina El-Tawansy: I think remaining focused on our goals that address safety, equity, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity is the most urgent challenge facing transportation today. When we do that, we can properly serve the people of California, who rely every day on effective and efficient transportation systems. If we move forward without anchoring our work in these goals and guiding values, I’m not sure we can really serve all Californians.

I am excited and humbled to be helping lead Caltrans’ efforts to advance the state’s social, environmental, and economic health because transportation plays a significant role in each of these areas. When we successfully provide people with safe mobility choices and connect communities with a multimodal transportation system built for the future, we are properly serving our people. 

Anna Harvey: Charting the path to moving hearts and minds on transporting more people in the same or fewer number of cars, through carpooling, increased transit capacity and use, and mode shift to other, preferably active and environmentally friendly, modes.

Matthew Tucker: Our ability to effectively engage, collaborate, and reach consensus to implement timely and cost-effective major and long-range plans is the most urgent challenge. This is profoundly impacted by our political/governance institutions, not in my backyard (NIMBYism), and our ability to efficiently allocate risks, costs, and benefits.

K. Jane Williams: The most urgent challenge in transportation today is delivering critical infrastructure projects quickly and cost-effectively across the U.S. My experience in both the private and public sectors gives me a unique perspective on this issue, highlighting the impact of federal policy and project delivery. 

Across the country, communities are advancing efforts to strengthen essential transportation infrastructure. While permitting and regulatory reviews are important for safety and compliance, they can sometimes add complexity that impacts timelines and budgets. By streamlining these processes, agencies can accelerate project delivery and make the most of available resources. At HNTB, we partner with clients to navigate these steps efficiently, helping move projects from concept to completion so we can modernize our transportation network and meet today’s mobility needs.

Dina El-Tawansy: At a high level, I am most excited and inspired by the vision of an integrated, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of everyone. I think transportation is often overlooked as a significant factor that contributes to the very tangible, material quality of our lives. Working together with my colleagues across Caltrans to grow a transportation network that is dynamic and which also supports people’s sense of belonging and dignity is beyond an inspiration for me personally.

Anna Harvey: The many talented young professionals in our industry that will be helping to solve our problems, including the one noted above. When I speak to graduate students and professional organizations, I am inspired by the enthusiasm and creative ideas that many folks are bringing to mobility and transportation planning and infrastructure problems that have been around for decades. When I interact with younger students, sometimes in elementary or middle school, it’s great to see them embracing the need to address climate change, to figure out how to integrate autonomous driving into our urban fabric, and their desire to see transit be more safe, reliable, and straight up fun.

Matthew Tucker: I’m excited about our next generation of leaders. My role allows me to work closely with professionals that I am confident will be part of the industry’s next leaders. These individuals are experts in their respective disciplines, but what excites me is their ability to effectively listen and collaborate to make great things possible for communities we serve.

K. Jane Williams: I am most excited by the wave of innovation transforming transportation and mobility. New and emerging technologies including autonomous vehicles, along with innovative delivery and financing strategies, are reshaping how projects are delivered, which impacts and improves overall mobility. For example, artificial intelligence is helping transit agencies monitor infrastructure and vehicles, predict failures and improve passenger safety while reducing infrastructure asset downtime.

AI can also accelerate project timelines, boost efficiency and reduce overall project costs. Pilot programs exploring AI and autonomous vehicles demonstrate the potential for even greater advancements. Continued innovation will make our transportation network safer, more reliable, and more efficient, ultimately enhancing mobility for everyone.

Dina El-Tawansy: Structured mentorship programs, apprenticeships, and opportunities for ongoing professional learning and development are essential to support future generations of transportation professionals. But beyond fostering a culture of engaged inquiry and continuous learning, we can do better to be more present with each other in our work and break down silos that separate us or even create antagonism within our industry. Transdisciplinary collaboration is of vital importance if we are going to create the transportation solutions the people of California deserve.

We can be even more intentional about early exposure to our industry and the career pathways needed to grow a highly-skilled and innovative generation of transportation professionals. For example, partnering with schools and community organizations to introduce transportation careers early on in educational experiences is key. How children are educated to imagine and then enter into their future starts with role modeling, storytelling, and effective outreach to communities who have historically been excluded from this industry. Young people need to be able to see themselves in this field, which is why representation now truly matters. When a group of transportation professionals can draw on the diversity of their backgrounds and the wisdom of their lived experiences, what they create will better meet the needs of everyone. 

When I think of sustaining the future of these professionals in this industry, I also think of how we can better promote a culture of work-life balance, equity, and purpose. We must ensure the transportation field is not only attractive for career entry but also for long-term careers.

Anna Harvey: To the discussion above, the knowledge sharing from those of us with more years in the industry should be structured and regular. We need to make the effort to interact with the next generation, so that over time, the transfer can become more than one way. Relationships can only be built over time with deliberate iteration. Professional societies and conferences are great ways to begin these conversations.

Matthew Tucker: We can provide support by being intentional in encouraging their professional development and ensuring alignment between growth opportunity and personal aspiration.

K. Jane Williams: Supporting the next generation of transportation professionals means investing in the future of our transportation network. Technical training is essential as technology evolves, but mentorship is equally important to preserve institutional knowledge and develop leaders who connect communities.

Building pipelines from classrooms to careers—such as internships and apprenticeships—helps attract talent early and prepares young professionals for the field’s rapid changes. Collaboration between public and private partners creates valuable learning opportunities. By expanding education and hands-on experiences, we can equip the workforce to manage today’s transportation challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s innovations. When we invest in people, we create transportation systems that truly move communities forward.

Dina El-Tawansy: Overall, I want to be able to place further emphasis on how transportation intersects and impacts the quality of life for all of us. Every aspect of our country depends on the transportation infrastructure that currently exists, and our future wellbeing is reliant upon that infrastructure growing and changing to meet our current and future needs.

Anna Harvey: I’d like to try to act as a bridge between current MSTM students, recent graduates, and the other trustees. There’s a large pool of talented students and recent grads that would benefit from the tenure and perspective of some of our trustees.

Matthew Tucker: MTI is well respected within the industry; I plan to be a strong advocate for MTI and its mission.

K. Jane Williams: As a trustee of the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), I hope to leverage my public and private sector experience to strengthen the Institute’s role as a national leader in transportation research, policy, and education. My time as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration deepened my understanding of the challenges facing transit agencies, from infrastructure funding and safety to technology adoption.

At HNTB, working with agencies and partners has reinforced the importance of collaboration and technical excellence. On MTI’s board, I hope to bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring MTI’s research empowers communities to implement real-world solutions. My goal is to advance initiatives that promote safety, accessibility, and innovation, while preparing the next generation of leaders to carry our transportation network forward.

Dina El-Tawansy: I am often asked this question, and I feel like I offer a different answer every time. I am interested in so many aspects of life! When I was younger, I was fascinated by travel and the tourism industry that supports people visiting and learning from places far from home. I have also always been interested in the disciplines of geology, geography, architecture, anthropology, archeology, Egyptology, and even international relations, politics, and diplomacy (my mother always told me I would make an excellent diplomat). Life is endlessly fascinating, and I always want to be learning more.

Anna Harvey: If I weren’t in transportation, I’d still want to be in public service in some other way. Water policy in California has been an interest of mine since my undergraduate time—my favorite book on the subject is Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner.

Matthew Tucker: My dad owned a construction company focused primarily on residential construction, and at 12 years old I had the opportunity to work for him. If I weren’t in transportation, I would explore a return to residential construction, as I enjoy working with my hands, am fascinated by home design, and love the comradery of construction jobs.

K. Jane Williams: If I weren’t in the field of transportation, I would pursue a career in the non-profit sector. Growing up in a family of 10, I learned the importance of giving back to the community from my parents, who were strong role models and community leaders. Their combined example ignited my interest in finding a career that gave me the opportunity to make an impact on my community.

MTI is incredibly grateful for the insights each of our Trustees brings to our organization. Their unique experiences and commitment to advancing mobility for all will help us ensure a safer, more efficient future for transportation everywhere.

At the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University (SJSU) our mission is to increase mobility for all by improving the safety, efficiency, accessibility, and convenience of our nation's transportation system. Through research, education, workforce development and technology transfer, we help create a connected world. MTI was founded in 1991 and is funded through the US Department of Transportation, the California Department of Transportation, and public and private grants including those made available by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB1). MTI is affiliated with SJSU’s Lucas College and Graduate School of Business.

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