CIEN E4148: Industry Field Studies

Course Overview

This course introduces you to the complexities and challenges of project management in the construction industry. Taught by experts from AECOM and STV, this course provides the unique opportunity to work directly in their offices and engage with real projects. This setup enables you to network with seasoned professionals through guest lectures and site visits to iconic NYC project sites.

The course runs in two semesters. The first semester focuses on Traditional Project Management and the second semester on Agile Project Management. In the first semester, you will learn how to respond to requests for proposals, develop a project management plan, and control and monitor an executed contract. In the second semester, you will explore how agile project management methodologies can be applied to the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. 

To enhance your learning experience, you will be divided into two groups. One group will attend the course at the STV offices, while the other group will go to the AECOM offices. This unique opportunity immerses you in a real-world company setting, where you’ll gain hands-on experience and mentorship from practicing professionals. In groups, you will examine real-life examples of contracts (traditional project management) and operation excellence initiatives (agile project management), and develop Project Management Plans (PMP) and Operations Dashboards respectively. You will be encouraged to use industry-standard tools and software, such as Power BI, Excel, and Miro, to prepare your final deliverables. Each semester concludes with final presentations delivered to STV and AECOM leadership. 

This combination of theory, real-world experience, and industry exposure positions you at a competitive advantage as you enter the workforce with a solid foundation of practical application.

Course Instructors

Marilisa Stigliano

Adjunct Professor & Senior Vice President, STV

Marilisa Stigliano is shaping the future of construction through leadership, mentorship and advocacy. Promoted to senior vice president at STV last year, she drives financial strategy and operational efficiency. She also serves on Professional Women in Construction’s board of directors – and until recently, on the New York Building Congress’ board – and mentors future leaders as a Columbia University advisory board member and professor, specializing in agile and traditional project management. Recognized as an emerging leader by the New York Building Congress, she continues to influence the next wave of industry professionals.

Marilisa holds a bachelor’s in civil engineering and a master's in Structural Engineering from La Sapienza, a master's in Construction Engineering and Management from Columbia University and a master’s in Business Administration from Columbia Business School. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Practitioner (PMI-ACP) and Design-Build designated professional (DBIA).

Nare Aghasarkissian

Adjunct Professor & Project Manager, AECOM

Nare Aghasarkissian is a Project Manager at AECOM New York Metro, specializing in digital transformation. She currently leads initiatives for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, focusing on modernizing technology systems, optimizing project delivery processes, and generating structured data to support emerging technologies. Aghasarkissian began her career as a civil engineer at RSG Engineering in Houston, contributing to a range of commercial and residential development projects. Since joining AECOM New York, she has served as a deputy project manager on several high-profile, multi-million-dollar programs, including the JFK New Terminal One Redevelopment. She has also played a key role in developing trackers and databases for AECOM’s regional operations, with a focus on data analytics and dashboard reporting.

Aghasarkissian holds a B.E. in Civil Engineering from the American University of Beirut and will begin her part-time MBA at NYU Stern in Fall 2025. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and an Associate Design-Build Professional (Assoc. DBIA). She is an active member of the Professional Women in Construction and was recognized by the Women Builders Council in 2023 as one of the “Next Generation Women Builders”. Aghasarkissian served as an Associate Adjunct for the AECOM-Columbia University Industry Field Studies course during the 2024-2025 academic year, after co-leading the course as a volunteer for the previous three years.