Northwestern Doctoral Graduate Gretchen Bella Receives National Dissertation Award at CUTC Awards Banquet
Gretchen Bella, PhD, of Northwestern University has been awarded the Charley V. Wooten Memorial Award for Outstanding Doctoral dissertation in the filed of policy and planning in transportation studies at the 2026 CUTC Annual Awards Banquet, one of the highest honors recognizing doctoral research in transportation policy in January.
Bella was recognized for her dissertation, “Bridging the Hybrid-Digital Transportation Divide: Modeling Data Biases and Resource Access Gaps,” which explores how transportation systems, digital infrastructure, and mobility disruptions shape access to essential resources such as food and healthcare, specifically for those in low-socio economic communities.
“I’m humbled,” Bella said. “It was so affirming to have my dissertation recognized for its focus on real-world transportation impacts. It means a lot to see this work resonate with a wider academic circle.”
Her research combines large-scale mobile mobility data with equity-centered analysis to examine how infrastructure disruptions and digital systems influence who can access critical services. Through her studied in cities including Chicago and Houston, Bella identifies biases embedded in commonly used mobility datasets and highlights that need for more inclusive, policy-relevant approaches to transportation planning.
The Charley V. Wootan Memorial Award honors doctoral work that demonstrates academic excellence in the field of policy and planning in transportation studies. For Bella, the recognition carries both professional and personal significance.
“I’m really interested in a pursuing a career in academia, so this was extremely validating of that choice,” she said. “Winning this award was proof to myself that I am on the right path.”
Bella adds, “this recognition reinforces my commitment to interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research and motivates me to continue building work that bridges the transportation systems, climate resilience and social fairness.”
She credits her mentors and academic community for helping her reach this milestone, particularly her advisor, Amanda Stathpolous, and Joe Schofer for their support throughout her graduate journey.
Within the Northwestern University Transportation Center community, Bella said she is “deeply indebted” to those who encourages her intellectual curiosity and supported her work across disciplinary boundaries.
For students aspiring to similar recognition, her advice is simple: “Pursue research questions you genuinely care about, even if they cross disciplinary boundaries, and seek mentors who support your intellectual curiosity and risk-taking.”
Bella defended her PhD dissertation and graduated from Northwestern in 2025. She is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Maryland working with the Center for Disaster Resilience, where she focuses on transportation engineering.