Norma Jean Mattei, University of New Orleans professor of civil and environmental engineering, has been named the 2020 Educator of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers New Orleans Branch. 

Mattei, who has been a member of the UNO faculty since 1995, is a renowned researcher and educator in the areas of structures and construction materials. Her technical research interests include large watershed management, material and structural testing, sustainable reuse of spent construction and fabrication materials, and residual stress measurement. She is also active in diversity, licensure and ethics issues.

Mattei serves as one of two civilian civil engineer commissioners on the Mississippi River Commission and was the 2017 president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She is still active on the executive committee of the ASCE New Orleans' Chapter of the Structural Engineering Institute.

Mattei has served on several National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying committees and task forces and is a former gubernatorial appointed member of Louisiana’s licensing board for professional engineers.