Sanjay Ramabhadran ’96 was recently sworn in as president of the Texas Lyceum in Austin. He sat down with us to discuss his career, civil service
The Texas Lyceum is a public service organization made up of 96 leaders from around the state whose purpose is to identify the next generation of Texas leaders, educate them about important issues facing the state of Texas, empower them to have the opportunity to actually impact policy and to steward Texas values. Past members include presidents, U.S. congressmen, members of the Texas Legislature, ambassadors, business leaders and leaders in the nonprofit sector.
Since graduating from Texas A&M University with a master’s degree in civil engineering, Ramabhadran works in Houston in public infrastructure. He’s passionate about changing the stereotypes that surround engineers because he believes engineers have a special point of view when it comes to big issues.
“Engineers can get stuck and just put their nose down doing what needs to be done in order to finish a job. However, I think engineers also have a lot to offer in terms of public policy – be it city planning, how will we get around Houston or planning for sustainable use of our water resources. Given we are an integral part of implementing infrastructure projects, we have an on-the-ground experience to offer policymakers,” Ramabhadran said.
Ramabhadran grew up in a small mining town in India where his parents instilled in him a lifestyle of service from a young age.
“My parents helped build infrastructure and civic organizations in our town,” he said. “I learned from my father how engineers could change lives and from both my parents, the importance of civic engagement.”
Ramabhadran grew up and benefitted from an undergraduate education from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, an Indian university formed by the Ford Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 1960s.
“My western-style undergraduate education truly benefitted me as an international student looking to study in the United States,” Ramabhadran said.
But the decision to study at Texas A&M was a shock to Ramabhadran’s family.
“Five of my cousins and nephews were already studying at another certain school in Texas. I had no idea what an Aggie was, but I saw the civil engineering rankings and the cost of living in College Station and I was sold,” Ramabhadran said.
Embracing the Aggie spirit, Ramabhadran enjoyed his time on campus. He traded his cricket bat in for a baseball bat, assisted with the bonfire and soon after helped in the repainting of the “Welcome to Aggieland” water tower.
After working at regional and global engineering firms in executive and board roles, Ramabhadran recently founded VERSA Infrastructure and is a co-principal. He has been involved in Leadership Houston, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, American Leadership Forum and in speaking to international students at Texas A&M. As president of the Lyceum, Ramabhadran is seizing his opportunity to bring it back to College Station. In fall 2019, members of the Texas Lyceum will meet at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M to explore whether Texans are taking our democracy for granted. Other topics for 2019 include education, the workforce, how commerce moves into, across and through Texas, and the state’s natural splendor.
But there is one thing in particular that Ramabhadran is excited to finally bring to campus.
“After all this time, I’m excited to say that by the time the Lyceum meets in College Station, I will have received my Aggie ring,” he said.
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The Texas A&M College of Engineering is proud of our former students like Sanjay Ramabhadran who uphold Aggie core values such as loyalty and respect. If you know an Aggie who is celebrating an accomplishment and would like them to be recognized by the college, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations.