A Gwinnett Countian is the new president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She is Dr. Marsha Anderson Bomar of Duluth, who was elected at a recent meeting in Seattle, Wash. She is a Transportation Strategic Advisor for GHD, an international consulting firm.
Anderson is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., where she grew up. She has a bachelor of science in mathematics ,as well as a master’s of science in transportation, from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, a master of science in civil engineering from Princeton University, and a Ph.D. from the College of Environment and Design from the University of Georgia.
With a distinguished career spanning transportation planning, traffic engineering and public infrastructure leadership, Anderson Bomar brings a visionary approach to advancing civil engineering’s role in shaping resilient, equitable and sustainable communities.
Anderson Bomar has been active in the ASCE for many years, serving as treasurer on the Board of Directors and as technical region director from 2018-2020. She has also played a key role in ASCE’s Transportation and Development Institute for 20 years, including as president in 2010 and as co-founder of the Georgia Section’s T&DI chapter.
Anderson Bomar’s election reflects her decades of leadership across public and private sectors, including her previous roles as commissioner emeritus for the City of Atlanta Department of Transportation and assistant general manager at Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transportation Authority (MARTA). She also founded and ran her own companies, Street Smarts and Data Smarts, for two decades.
On October 5, Anderson Bomar was also inducted into the National Academy of Engineering’s Class of 2025. According to the NAE, membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature,” as well as to “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.”
Joro spiders may have bacteria to control them
Research from Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) suggests that the Joro spider, an invasive species in Georgia, may carry a bacteria that could help control its growing population.
The study, recently published in PeerJ (Mitochondrial and Wolbachia phylogenetics of the introduced Jorō spider, Trichonephila clavata, in North America), was conducted by Dr. James Russell, professor of biology at GGC, Dr. Chris Brown, professor of biology at GGC, and GGC alumnus Nicholas Mierza (’23), in collaboration with researchers from Clemson University, and Southern Adventist College.
Russell says: “Many arthropod species carry the Wolbachia bacteria, and we discovered the Joro spider is no exception. The bacterium creates reproductive barriers. If an infected male mates with an uninfected female, she becomes sterilized. If both are infected, they can reproduce, and only females can pass the bacterium along.”
The research points to the potential of Wolbachia as a biological control tool.
Russell adds: “This particular Wolbachia effect could be used to manage populations beyond the Joro spider. It could help control insects such as mosquitos, which spread diseases that affect humans. This approach offers a less harmful way to address pests that pose health risks.”
Joro spiders, first discovered in Georgia 11 years ago, have spread quickly because they have few natural predators and adapt easily to local environments. Their golden webs are often seen across the state in the fall, with females capable of laying up to 500 eggs at a time.
“This project was a great example of collaboration,” Russell says. “Our partners at other institutions helped us collect specimens, and our team extracted genetic material to better understand the spiders’ makeup.”
Business League honors chairwoman with award
Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson has been named the recipient of the 2025 Lottie H. Watkins Female First Award by the Atlanta Business League. The award recognizes women who have made groundbreaking achievements in their professions and communities. Hendrickson was honored for her commitment to advancing equity, inclusion and innovation across the country’s most diverse county. The Lottie H. Watkins Female First Award pays tribute to women who break barriers and set new standards of excellence in business and civic leadership.
