One word to describe yourself: Resilient
Alma Mater: University of Maryland, College Park; University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
Fast fact about yourself: I was the valedictorian and commencement speaker at my undergraduate graduation, receiving a standing ovation that helped launch my public speaking journey. The speech later went viral on LinkedIn and YouTube, leading to an invitation to speak at a Global Citizen Conference in Malaysia. Since then, I’ve been committed to using my voice to uplift others, whether through my YouTube channel or through career talks that demystify academia, engineering and planning.
What’s your best experience on transit and what made it memorable? Last summer, my niece and nephew from Texas visited me in Washington, D.C. It was their first time riding the Metro, and their excitement was contagious. That moment reminded me how powerful transit can be—how it connects us, creates memories and expands horizons.
Nneoma Ugwu’s transit career trajectory is one of exceptional growth. From a transit fellow at the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, where she authored a white paper on automated bus lane enforcement and supported zero-emissions bus symposiums, to her consulting roles at WSP and HNTB, she has shown continual upward momentum. She has strengthened her portfolio by leading efforts in grant acquisition, cost forecasting and performance tracking for high-impact transit projects.
As a former planner II at HNTB, colleagues said Ugwu brought rigor, foresight and structure to her consulting work. Within months of joining HNTB, she took the initiative to fill process and leadership gaps, earning recognition as both a technical lead and a quality manager. During her tenure at HTNB, Ugwu wore multiple hats across planning and engineering, ensuring project delivery reflects both innovation and impact. For example, she worked to streamline workflows and improve client-facing tools, creating a custom-built Excel macro system for client engagement.
She brought innovation not only in the tools she developed and the research she led but also in the culture she built around her. At HNTB, she proactively earned certifications in PMI and internal quality systems, stepping into project quality management roles and leading initiatives to tighten process controls and accountability. In 2024, she earned her doctorate with groundbreaking research on equity in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Her study, based on over 700 Maryland respondents, explored barriers to EV adoption in underserved communities and was instrumental in shaping elements of state National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure planning.
Her contributions have been recognized across the industry with awards from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), ITS America and WTS, including receiving 13 scholarships and the prestigious WTS International Helen M. Overly Award.
Whether building cross-agency dashboards, leading EV transition plans or mentoring the next generation of planners, Ugwu brings a mindset of innovation, inclusion and impact. She is a recognized thought leader in equity-centered transit planning. Her book chapter in Transport in a Moving World—based on her research on telecommuting and ridership trends during the COVID-19 pandemic— was internationally cited and helped agencies think more deeply about resilience in transit systems. She has spoken on panels, always elevating the conversation with data-backed insights and actionable recommendations.
Ugwu’s involvement doesn’t stop here. A proud leader within WTS, she currently serves as a mentor in the WTS-DC mentorship program and recently moderated a 2025 WTS International panel. She's volunteered with APTA, COMTO and WTS. Her service extends to the Transportation Research Board (TRB), where she is a trusted reviewer and a friend to multiple TRB committees focused on transit and clean energy. Colleagues say her scholarship, innovation and integrity continue to enrich the mass transit sector in ways that are both measurable and lasting.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I truly enjoy the people I work with, collaborating with brilliant minds across disciplines and learning from them daily in a supportive, growth-oriented environment. I’m also passionate about knowledge-sharing and seeing how our work translates into real-world improvements. Whether it’s enhancing access to mobility or helping clients embrace innovative solutions, I’m proud to contribute to meaningful, community-centered progress in transit.
What is the accomplishment you’re most proud of and why?
Earning my Ph.D. in civil engineering is a personal and professional milestone I’ll always cherish. It was a childhood dream and one that pushed me beyond my comfort zone in every way. That journey taught me resilience, adaptability and the power of purpose. I’m also proud of my publications, including authoring a book chapter on transportation in a global context. It’s deeply fulfilling to contribute to shaping the discourse on equitable, sustainable transit.
What is an accomplishment you would like to work towards in your career?
I believe in kaizen—continuous improvement—and my goal is to keep evolving as a leader and changemaker. I want to build a career that’s both memorable and meaningful: one that shapes policy, uplifts communities and empowers the next generation of diverse voices in transit.
What is your best advice or tip from your area of expertise?
Always think big picture. It’s easy to get caught in the details, but transportation is about systems, people and futures. Also: take the shot. You miss 100 percent of the opportunities you don’t go for, especially as a woman or person of color in this space. Your voice matters.
About the Author
Megan Perrero
Editor in Chief
Megan Perrero is a national award-winning B2B journalist and lover of all things transit. Currently, she is the Editor in Chief of Mass Transit magazine, where she develops and leads a multi-channel editorial strategy while reporting on the North American public transit industry.
Prior to her position with Mass Transit, Perrero was the senior communications and external relations specialist for the Shared-Use Mobility Center, where she was responsible for helping develop internal/external communications, plan the National Shared Mobility Summit and manage brand strategy and marketing campaigns.
Perrero serves as the board secretary for Latinos In Transit and is a member of the American Public Transportation Association Marketing and Communications Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism with a concentration in magazine writing and a minor in public relations from Columbia College Chicago.