Alumni Who Inspire: Colin Frosch

Civil engineering alumnus Colin Frosch shares his journey at one of the nation's leading engineering firms and top tips for success after graduation.

This month we’re excited to introduce alumnus Mr. Colin Frosch. Frosch graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2015. 

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

A 4.0 GPA Foundation and Honors student, Frosch additionally pursued an accelerated MBA concurrently with his master’s in civil engineering through a unique partnership between the Statler College and Chambers. Since graduating in 2017 Frosch has worked as a transportation engineer at Kimley-Horn, helping address transportation issues across North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the east coast. Kimley-Horn is one of the nation’s premier engineering, planning and design consulting firms, serving a wide range of public infrastructure and private development needs. 

Frosch has successfully delivered transportation solutions on a wide range of projects, specializing in the analysis of alternatives, proactive agency coordination, NEPA compliance, meaningful public involvement, traffic and multimodal transportation analyses, and preliminary design. He has worked on greenway and streetscape projects supporting non-motorized and recreational forms of transportation, heavy rail and transit programs, intersection and corridor improvements and the Northern Virginia Express Lanes system.

Thank you for joining our monthly conversation, Colin! Can you tell us what motivated you to pursue a career in civil engineering? 

From early on in high school I knew I wanted to be a civil engineer. From growing up with a fascination of solving problems, building with Legos, attending engineering summer camps, and experiencing public infrastructure through the lens of living abroad in Germany, coupled with a passion for serving the community, pursuing a civil engineering degree was a clear fit for my passions.  

What brought you to West Virginia University and the Statler College? 

Prior to moving to Fairmont, West Virginia in middle school, I did not have any ties to the state or WVU. When it came time in high school to consider where I’d be pursuing my civil engineering degree, I think I did what most aspiring students do: I set my sights high looking at universities further away from home but always kept WVU in mind as an option, at least at the onset. While going through that process, however, I discovered how WVU stood out against the rest with their program offerings, personal touch and extracurricular activities. I remember WVU was the only engineering college I visited that gave me a one-on-one tour and arranged a meeting with a current WVU faculty member. Coming out of high school I had two goals while in college: to travel and complete a project with Engineers Without Borders and to study abroad in Germany. WVU met both those goals easily. Pair that with the financial value that WVU offered for students, the decision was clear!  

This is some great insight. What were some of the highlights of your experience at WVU that defined the trajectory for your career? 

In my freshman year, transportation engineering stood out to me as my calling. I found that it would allow me to have an impact on society and be able to relate to almost every person I encountered. I recall in college pointing out to a peer the two most frequently used starters to a conversation – “How was your trip/commute, and how’s the weather?” At least one of those questions I knew I could play a role in improving! 

What a revelation! What activities have you been involved with at WVU/ Statler College? 

I joined Engineers Without Borders as a freshman and was fortunate enough to be selected to travel to Fiji over spring break of my freshman year on a clean water infrastructure trip with Dr. Lance Lin. Soon after, I got all the details lined up to do a six-week study abroad in Luneburg, Germany for that upcoming summer. WVU had enabled me to reach my two college goals in just the first year of my time there! 

I continued my involvement with Engineers Without Borders as membership coordinator, vice president, and then president for three years, growing our local and international impact and membership substantially during that time. I also continued pursuing my love of Germany through a German minor. 

During my time at WVU, I got heavily involved with the Statler College’s Outreach and Enrollment Office first as a Statler Ambassador, then camp counselor, and finally graduate assistant. Pairing my passions for STEM, teaching, helping the community and promoting the Statler College were a great fit and helped bolster my planning and public speaking skills.  

I also got heavily involved in transportation research with former professors in the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. This included studying driver behavior within the state’s first roundabouts in my hometown of Fairmont and evaluating shared space as a suitable safety and congestion relief solution for the Grumbein’s Island pedestrian crossing on the downtown campus. The latter project evolved into a proposal to WVU’s administration and the eventual topic of my graduate thesis.  

Beyond these key activities, I was part of the ASCE, had internships, intramural sports and got involved with my local church.  

It’s amazing to hear how involved you were and how you took advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that WVU offers. How do you stay connected with the university as an alumnus? Are there any initiatives you’re currently involved in? 

After relocating to Kimley-Horn’s Northern Virginia office in 2021, I was faced with a clean slate of where I wanted to take my career. I took this opportunity to address the needs I saw in WV to serve new clients, recruit more WVU students to Kimley-Horn, and strengthen the Kimley-Horn WVU alumni relationship with the university. Over the past three years, this has included mentoring two civil engineering capstone groups, speaking to multiple CE 201 and 301 classes as well as Engineers Without Borders, and solidifying client relationships with the City of Morgantown, the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization, and WVU. I’m proud to be actively serving these three hometown clients and the community I called home for so long with innovative planning and design projects bringing the best minds within Kimley-Horn across the country to WV’s doorstep. Every time I’m heading west on I-68 into WV, I’m reminded of how country roads brought my career back home. 

It’s inspiring to see your continued support. Before we wrap up, what advice would you give to current students as they prepare for life after graduation? 

Getting the opportunity to work with colleagues, agencies, clients, and the public to evaluate alternatives, find solutions and compromises, and deliver successful projects both big and small has proved to be a very fulfilling career path. Keep in mind that:  

• A degree is the prerequisite to a job and your career. Pursue your passions while at WVU through student groups, internships, undergraduate research, etc. Not only will this provide you with valuable and relatable life experience to bring to an interview, but it will also help you enjoy your time at WVU and create lasting memories. 

• Say yes to new opportunities and push yourself beyond the edge of your comfort zone. Continue to strive to grow yourself and do more. 

• Be selfless. Use your talents to build up others and give back to your community. Use this impact you can have as motivation every day. You’ll find more fulfillment in what you’re doing and will wind up obtaining the personal successes in life you strive for.  

Thank you for your time and all you do for your alma mater. It’s been a pleasure learning about your journey!  

Our alumni continue to motivate and inspire with their engaging stories of success. The Alumni Who Inspire! Program recognizes alumni for their dedication to their professions, West Virginia University and the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. The program was launched in Fall 2023 as a monthly discussion board with college graduates to gather their valuable real-world perspectives and learn how they navigated the transition from school to the workforce as successful professionals. 

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