Honorary membership is the organization's highest and most prestigious distinction, honouring exceptional leadership, distinguished service and lasting impact in advancing the science, practice and sustainability of asphalt roads and pavement engineering.
Tighe, who is a professor of Civil Engineering, is internationally known for her pioneering work in sustainable transportation infrastructure.
Her visionary "cradle-to-grave" research program integrates fundamental materials science, advanced performance evaluation, and real-world implementation, delivering resilient, low-carbon solutions for roads and airfields in Canada and around the world.
"I'm humbled by this tremendous honour," said Tighe. "My life's work in engineering has been focused on asphalt and pavement innovation, so it's wonderful to be recognized by my peers and a leading authority in this field."
From left, CTAA past president Brandon MacDonald, McMaster President Susan Tighe and Sina Varamini, past chair of the Canadian User Producer Group for Asphalt (CUPGA) at CTAA and adjunct assistant professor at McMaster, at the CTAA annual conference, where Tighe recieved her honorary membership.
A long-standing and highly respected member of CTAA, Tighe has authored or co-authored more than 50 technical papers presented at CTAA conferences. Her leadership roles within the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) and the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) further underscore her enduring commitment to professional excellence, collaboration and knowledge mobilization.
Over more than two decades, Tighe has shaped the future of pavement engineering through groundbreaking research in sustainable asphalt materials, advanced performance modelling and pavement preservation strategies.
Her influence extends well beyond technical innovation she has mentored generations of students, engineers and researchers, many of whom now serve as leaders across industry, academia and public agencies.
Tighe received the honour at the TCAA's annual Conference and Annual General Meeting, where PhD candidate Daryush Esmaili, one of her students, received the Best Poster award for research focused on optimizing asphalt lifecycle and performance through integrated corridor planning.
