Tara Olds is the Director of Minnesota’s Connected and Automated Vehicles Program where she leads the state’s policy, planning, research, and testing of emerging transportation technologies. Tara works to advance safe deployment of CAV technologies and to promote equitable and sustainable transportation systems and solutions. Her background spans across engineering design, planning, traffic safety, construction, project management, and community engagement. Tara has a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Iowa (Go Hawkeyes!) and Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Policy. She is passionate about creating meaningful and inclusive engagement to ensure our current and future transportation systems meet the diverse needs of our communities.