Avery Bang built her first bridge when she was an undergraduate, experiencing first-hand how a simple footbridge can transform a community. She was hooked, and has spent the last decade addressing the global crisis of isolation in the rural last mile. Today, Avery is the President and CEO of Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a social enterprise that has connected nearly one million people to essential health care, education and economic opportunities.

Before becoming a bridge builder, Avery was a self-proclaimed Lego nerd, which inspired her to study civil engineering and studio art. After discovering her passion for B2P’s mission, she wrote a Master’s thesis on bridge design for rural contexts and later pursued a business degree at the University of Oxford focused on leading social change. She was named one of the world’s top 25 most newsworthy engineers by Engineering News-Record, was honored with alumni awards from the University of Iowa and the University of Colorado and was the recipient of an honorary PhD from Clarkson University.

Engineering, Civil Engineering, City Planning, Social Activism, Community Improvement, Global Development, Economic Development, CEO, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eco Friendly, Denver, CO, Social Services, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Work, Healthcare, Business of Healthcare, Healthcare Policy, Healthcare Providers Educational, Education, Education Motivation, Social Issues,