One of the five core values of our Dewberry at Work culture is perseverance, with a listed behavior to focus on the long haul. This principle has been driving my over-15-year career with Dewberry, and thanks to many years of hard work and support from my team, family, and friends, I have finally achieved one of my biggest career goals—completing my bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

Education and Skills Development

When I first began at Dewberry, I was a CAD drafter in the healthcare mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural (MEPS) group. While I enjoyed that role for 10 years, I always knew that I could do more. I wanted to create the redlines that designers and engineers gave me to draw into CAD; I aspired to be an electrical designer, and one day, an electrical engineer. After I expressed this interest to my supervisor, Sid Mitchell, I was met with nothing but complete support. Sid helped me to create a plan to map out how I could be promoted to an electrical designer before receiving my bachelor's degree.

As part of the plan, I continued to develop my skills in all aspects of electrical design, including layouts, receptacles, power data, and the various standards electrical professionals use like the National Electric Code and National Electrical Safety Code. My experience as a drafter had previously exposed me to these skills, which led to my promotion much sooner than I anticipated. However, for the jump from electrical designer to electrical engineer, a degree in electrical engineering would be required.

As I continued my part-time coursework for my degree, my new role as designer pushed me to keep learning in and out of the classroom and provided valuable insight to accompany my studies. My teammates also offered guidance and encouragement to help me persevere through the various challenges that came my way. Juggling full-time work, coursework, and personal responsibilities was no easy task; I was constantly pushed to my limit but was frequently reminded of the value of perseverance and the goals I wanted to achieve.

In December 2023, I received my Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and was promoted to staff engineer.

Finding a Career in the Engineering Industry

There are many tips and advice I would offer to an individual hoping to build their career in the engineering industry:

• Define your goals: Determine which area of engineering you’d like to focus on. The field of engineering encompasses so much: mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, industrial, aerospace, computer, bioengineering, and more.
• Use your resources: Look for opportunities to learn more. Research STEM events at local organizations or schools to attend. Find individuals who are in the roles you are interested in and reach out to them to learn more about their role. Request to tour companies you are interested in one day working for. Use all the available resources on the internet and in your personal network.
• Develop a plan: Figure out what criteria is required for the role you want and create a plan of how you will obtain it. Ask yourself questions like: “What degree is required? Is licensure required? What are the requirements of the license(s)?”
• Anticipate obstacles: No path is straightforward or easy. I have faced many challenges on my personal path, especially as a Black woman in the AEC industry. People may underestimate your abilities or question your decisions, but you cannot let those things get to you. Keep an open mind to real constructive criticism that can benefit you and let everything else fall away. Keep a positive outlook and never let anyone deter you.
• Find a support network and mentor: Share your goals with your network so they are aware of the ways they can help you. Raise your hand for opportunities you are interested in. Ask those in the roles you want to pursue for insight on their journey and any advice they can provide.
• Celebrate your successes: It can be hard to enjoy all the little wins when you are bogged down in professional and academic responsibilities. However, it is important to remind yourself of all the smaller achievements you make on the way to your bigger goal.
• Remember what you are working towards: Use your aspirations to motivate you and push you forward.

I have learned first-hand that hard work can result in anything you set your mind to, and I am looking forward to achieving my next goal—obtaining my professional engineer license.