Kimberly Kramer | Professor

G.E. Johnson Construction Science Chair

Ph.D. - 2020, Kansas State University
Civil Engineering
M.E. - 1999, University of Texas at Arlington
Civil Engineering
B.S. - 1989, Kansas State University
Architectural Engineering

Contact information

2063 Seaton Hall
785-532-5964
kramer@k-state.edu

Professional experience

Professor Kimberly Kramer received her bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from K-State in 1989. Upon graduation, she worked as a structural engineer-in-training for Leo A. Daly in Omaha; as a lead structural engineer for HTB, Inc. in Oklahoma City; as a senior structural engineer for Carter and Burgess in Fort Worth, Texas; and as the Director of Structural Engineering for GideonToal, Inc., also in Fort Worth. In this capacity, she was responsible for the design of building systems from initial planning stages through final project inspection and completion. Kramer was involved in new, renovation, and restoration projects including hospitals, prison facilities, long-span aircraft hangars, military facilities, education facilities, high-rise office buildings, retail facilities, dormitories, churches, and parking garages. She completed her Master of Engineering degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in structures and applied mechanics from the University of Texas at Arlington and her Doctorate of Philosophy in civil engineering from Kansas State University.

In January 2003, Kramer accepted a faculty position with K-State in the department of architectural engineering and construction science. She is a licensed structural and professional engineer in Texas, Kansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, Colorado, Indiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nebraska and Wisconsin. As a professor of architectural engineering and construction science, she was named the G.E. Johnson Construction Science Endowed Chair in 2013. In addition to her nine-month faculty appointment at K-State, Kramer has the opportunity to stay current with the building industry in a consulting capacity as the co-owner of the consulting company, KDK Engineering, LLC. Her consulting endeavors include performing as a structural professional education consultant, structural engineering design, and condition assessments.

Research

Kramer’s specific areas of interest and research include slender reinforced concrete (tilt-up) wall systems, behavior of reinforced concrete, restoration and rehabilitation of structures including resilient design, and strengthening of partially prestressed reinforced concrete structures with fiber reinforced polymer composites. She conducts research with both graduate and undergraduate students. She has served as the major professor to 65 graduate students and guided 20 undergraduate research projects.

Academic highlights

Kramer has published peer-refereed journal articles with topics that include the following: analytical load-deflection behavior of partially prestressed concrete girders strengthened with fiber reinforced polymers, slender wall load-deflection behavior, and sustainable structural materials. She also has given more than 50 presentations in various settings, including a keynote speech at the World of Concrete. From 2006 to 2022, she was the director of graduate studies for architectural engineering at K-State. Kramer has taught 19 different undergraduate and graduate courses while at K-State, including eight she specifically developed, and three via distance education or hybrid format.

In 2025, the American Society of Civil Engineering Architectural Engineering Institute honored Kramer with the Outstanding AE Educator Award. The American Concrete Institute recognized her for making notable contributions to the advancement of initiatives by the ACI Educational Activities Committee by naming her the 2022 ACI Education Award recipient and in 2021, the ACI Sustainability Award, for her outstanding leadership and contributions, including bringing greater awareness to the environmental, social, and economic benefits of concrete sustainability. The College of Engineering granted Kramer the Robert R. and Lila L. Snell Excellence in undergraduate Teaching Award (2022), the Myers-Alford Memorial Teaching Award (2017), the Charles H. Scholer Faculty Award (2015), the Dean’s Award of Excellence (2021 and 2015). In 2015, she received the American Society of Engineering Educators Midwest Section Outstanding Service Award. She is the recipient of Women in Engineering and Science Program’s Making a Difference Award (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010). In 2007, Kramer was recognized by the Welded Wire Reinforcement Institute for her teaching and technical contributions. She earned the AGC of Kansas Professorship from the Associated General Contractors of Kansas (2004, 2012, 2013, 2019).

Kramer is heavily involved in professional organizations American Concrete Institute (ACI) and Structural Engineers Association of Kansas and Missouri (SEAKM). She has acted as the faculty adviser to the K-State ACI and SEAKM student groups. Under her advising, the ACI team has finished in the top three six times during the last decade. She has been involved in many national-level committees including Board of Direction, Chair of the ACI Education Activity Committee, Chair of the ACI 551 Tilt-up Concrete Construction, ACI Construction Liaison Committee, ACI 120 History, ACI 130 Sustainability, SA03 Chester Paul Siess Award for Excellence in Structural Research, and as Chair of ACI 124 Aesthetics and ACI E702 Design of Concrete Structures. In 2015, she was promoted to the level of fellow by ACI. Kramer continues to promote her passion of structural engineering being appointed by the governor of Kansas on the Kansas State Board of Technical Professionals in 2019.