# Sarah Slaughter

> Sarah Slaughter is a civil engineering researcher and entrepreneur who founded MOCA Systems in 1999 and led it until 2005. Her MIT construction research became commercial simulation software. She now leads the Built Environment Coalition, a research and education nonprofit focused on resilience and sustainability, and co-chairs the National Academies’ Resilient America Roundtable.

- **Role:** Founder, CEO and President at Built Environment Coalition
- **Organizations:** Built Environment Coalition, MOCA Systems, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lehigh University, National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Construction, Resilient America Roundtable
- **Education:** S.B., Civil Engineering and Anthropology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, S.M., Technology and Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Multidisciplinary Ph.D., Civil Engineering and Management Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Founded MOCA Systems in 1999 and served as its original CEO and president until 2005., Translated MIT construction process research into commercial simulation technology., Co-founded and served as faculty head of the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative.

## Career timeline

- **1982** — Earned an MIT S.B. in Civil Engineering and Anthropology.
- **1991** — Completed a multidisciplinary MIT doctorate and began teaching civil engineering at Lehigh University.
- **1995** — Joined the MIT civil and environmental engineering faculty.
- **1995–1999** — NSF CAREER-funded work on computer-based simulation of construction activities.
- **1999** — Founded MOCA Systems, Inc., based on construction simulation research.
- **2000** — Took leave from MIT to work on MOCA full-time.
- **2001** — Formally left her MIT faculty position.
- **2005** — Ended her tenure leading MOCA; subsequently co-founded the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative.
- **2007** — Coordinated MIT Sloan’s Laboratory for Sustainable Business, S-Lab.
- **2013** — Elected to the National Academy of Construction; contributed to Building Resilience in Boston.
- **2015** — Visiting lecturer in MIT Urban Studies and Planning, focusing on resilient communities.
- **2017** — Elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
- **2020** — Began serving as co-chair of the Resilient America Roundtable, according to her public LinkedIn profile.
- **2025** — Introduced and framed the March 17 Resilient America open session on critical infrastructure and investment benefits.

## Achievements

- Founded MOCA Systems in 1999 and served as its original CEO and president until 2005.
- Translated MIT construction process research into commercial simulation technology.
- Co-founded and served as faculty head of the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative.
- Elected to the National Academy of Construction in 2013.
- Elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2017.
- Founded and leads the Built Environment Coalition.
- Co-chairs the National Academies’ Resilient America Roundtable.

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — MIT CEE published a retrospective on her research, MOCA’s founding, student founding shares, and subsequent resilience work.
- **2025-03** — Co-chaired the Resilient America Roundtable open session on critical infrastructure stressors and the economic benefits of investment.

## Links

- Website: https://www.builtenvironmentcoalition.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-slaughter-66426540

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sarah-slaughter
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22