Thursday, October 22, 2026
Ellyn A. Lester (second from right), assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies at Pennsylvania College of Technology, accepts the Mark Hasso Educator of the Year Award during the Construction Management Association of America’s annual conference, held Oct. 4-6 in Denver. From left are Carol Holland, immediate past chair of CMAA, fellow Educator of the Year Award recipients Michael D’Agostino and Hossein Ataei, Lester, and CMAA Board of Directors Chair Michael Mendick. (Photo courtesy of the Construction Management Association of America)
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Ellyn A. Lester, assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies, received the 2026 Mark Hasso Educator of the Year Award from the Construction Management Association of America.
Lester was honored during the association’s annual conference, held Oct. 4-6 in Denver.
The Mark Hasso Educator of the Year Award recognizes outstanding educators whose dedication to teaching, mentorship and service has made a lasting impact on construction management education and the development of future industry leaders. Lester was selected for her commitment to academic excellence, student success and the advancement of the construction management profession.
Ellyn A. Lester
As assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies, Lester is responsible for Penn College’s architecture; building construction; construction management; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning programs.
“Ellyn’s work continues to transform how we prepare the next generation of construction professionals,” said Bradley M. Webb, dean of engineering technologies. “Her innovative approach to curriculum, her national leadership in mentorship and her willingness to give so much of herself to students make her an exceptional educator and colleague. This award celebrates not just what she has accomplished, but the momentum she brings to the future of construction education.”
Heather Shinn, vice president of business operations and acquisition integration for Parsons Corp. and one of Lester’s nominators, praised “the passion she shows for students and making the right curriculum choices to prepare them for the workforce.”
“She gives freely of herself and her time to make sure students benefit,” Shinn said.
During the conference, Lester also taught a two-day “Train the Trainer” preconference course and led a panel discussion.
The “Train the Trainer” course provided an overview of learning styles, classroom management, teaching tools and presentation techniques. Those who complete the course receive CMAA Authorized Trainer recognition, allowing them to teach CMAA-run courses.
During the panel discussion, Lester, Shinn and collaborators Raoul Ilaw, vice president and senior program manager for STV, and Natalie Salinas, founder and CEO of Nth Consulting Group, addressed “The Future of Mentoring: Where AI Helps – and Where It Hurts.”
Lester, right, leads a panel discussion on “The Future of Mentoring: Where AI Helps – and Where it Hurts.” Seated at the table, from left, are panelists Raoul Ilaw, Heather Shinn and Natalie Salnias.
The panelists noted that mentorship remains one of the most practical ways to pass along judgment, experience and the nuances behind an organization’s practices, and that artificial intelligence is already entering the mentoring relationship, with 18% of early-career graduates using AI for career advice and 84% of those users finding it helpful.
They demonstrated tips for integrating AI tools into mentorship, but emphasized that the technology should be used to enhance the mentor/mentee relationship, not to replace it.
It marks the fourth consecutive year the group has hosted a session on mentorship at CMAA.
Lester is a recognized speaker on the topic. She has given more than 20 presentations and lectures on mentorship and has been published in the American Journal of Management, IOP Conference Series, the 2020 International Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital Excellence Awards Book, and the Psychology in Construction International Conference proceedings, among others.
She holds a doctorate in the built environment from the University of Salford (England), as well as a master’s degree in architecture and a bachelor’s degree in journalism, both from the University of Kansas.
Before joining the administration at Penn College, she was director of built environment programs at Stevens Institute of Technology and director of career services and adjunct faculty at NewSchool of Architecture and Design. She established NovaConnect Inc., a national consulting firm, was vice president of architecture for MBA Management Inc., was vice president of membership and marketing for the Design-Build Institute of America, and was director of business development for WRS Architects Inc.
She has received a Pennsylvania Impact Award from City & State Pennsylvania and the National Association of Women in Construction Education Foundation’s Carol A. Kueker Construction Education Visionary Award. She was named a Construction Dive Construction Champion, the American Institute of Architects California Associate of the Year, and received the Society for Marketing Professional Services Striving for Excellence Grand Prize.
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