Sean Gestson

Shiley School of Engineering, Assistant Professor

Sean Gestson

Email:

Phone:
503.943.7361

Address:
Shiley Hall 226

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About

Sean Gestson is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering in the Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering. A University of Portland alumnus, he returned to The Bluff as a faculty member in 2022 after several years of teaching and conducting engineering education research at Oregon State University.

Dr. Gestson teaches across the civil engineering curriculum, including geotechnical engineering, surveying, transportation and traffic engineering, engineering dynamics, and senior capstone design. As Chair of the Shiley School’s Capstone Committee, he works closely with students, faculty, and industry partners to create meaningful opportunities for students to apply their engineering knowledge to complex, real-world problems.

His research focuses on improving the connection between engineering education and professional practice. He studies how students and practicing engineers approach problems, how students develop their identities as engineers, and how engineering courses can better prepare graduates for the ambiguity and complexity of professional work. Much of his recent work involves collaborating directly with undergraduate students, faculty, and practicing engineers to develop and study new approaches to engineering education.

Across his teaching, research, and service, Dr. Gestson is particularly interested in creating practical, student-centered learning experiences that help students grow into thoughtful, capable, and adaptable engineers. Outside the classroom, Sean enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and friends, particularly camping, mountain biking, climbing, skateboarding, and golfing.

Education

  • Ph.D., Oregon State University (Corvallis, Oregon)
  • M.S., Oregon State University (Corvallis, Oregon)
  • B.S., University of Portland (Portland, Oregon)
  • A.S., Lower Columbia College (Longview, Washington)

Links

Recent Publications

  1. Gestson, S.L. & Barner, M.S. (June 2026). Balancing Flexibility and Accountability: Implementing Late Work Policies in Civil Engineering Courses (Work in Progress). ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Charlotte, North Carolina.
  2. Barner, M.S. & Gestson, S.L. (June 2026). Engineering Tutors’ Perspectives on How to Increase Engineering Students’ Utilization of Peer Tutoring – A Work-in-Progress. ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Charlotte, North Carolina.
  3. Gestson, S.L., Barner, M.S. (2025). How Engineering Faculty Define and Value the Impact of University Service. Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal, Canada.
  4. Barner, M.S., Gestson, S.L. (2025). Engaging Mechanics of Materials and Dynamics Students in Designing Curriculum for Statics. Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal, Canada.
  5. Gestson, S.L., Barner, M.S., *Fitzgerald, R., Farina, J. (2024). Developing a Learning Innovation for an Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Course through Faculty, Engineer, and Student Collaboration. Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.