Jennifer Whiteside
Interview Posted By: Ashley Smith
1. Can you tell us a little about your background? i.e. Where you grew up, what education do you have, a summary of your resume, did you always want to do what you are doing now, when did you start to become interested in STEM, what internships/ volunteering
I was born in Toledo, OH, but I grew up mostly in South Florida. I went to Florida State where I got a BS and an MS in civil engineering (structural emphasis). I've been working as a structural (bridges, specifically) engineer since 2001. Engineering wasn't really on my radar until a couple years into college. I thought I wanted to be an architect, but a semester of architecture school taught me that I did not enjoy it, had no aptitude for it, and that it was a lot more schooling than I thought it was (and this was already during my junior year of college, so it would have taken another 5 years to get a useful architecture degree - It was a time commitment I wasn't willing to make).
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
Currently I work for the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver, CO. RTD is in the process of constructing quite a bit of commuter rail, as well as some light rail extensions, with plans to expand even further in the future. My role as structural engineer is to review bridge and stations structures plans for compliance with design codes and RTD's requirements. I review a lot of plans and calculations, but I also manage people, coordinate with consultants and other disciplines and the contractors, and investigate existing structures for capacity. I make recommendations on how to proceed with design and how the project could save money through innovation.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
I use my engineering degree every day. I review a lot of prestressed and reinforced concrete, as well as structural steel and even some timber. It's been interesting at RTD because the structures run the gamut - it's not just bridges for the commuter rail, it can also include highway bridges, retaining walls, and station structures such as canopies and small buildings. Being a structural engineer also affords me the opportunity to use a lot of engineering knowledge that is not structural - I have to be familiar with highway design and geotechnical engineering as well.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Honestly I have never been discriminated against for being a woman (that I know of). The people I have worked with have been completely great in that they don't judge on what you look like, but on what you know. I do know women who have had inappropriate comments made toward them, though. I think my advice is essentially to be strong and have a sense of humor. Generally speaking, I don't think most people are sexist anymore, but they do try to push your buttons. If something is said in jest, I take it in jest - but if someone crosses the line, I have no problem putting them in their place and making it clear that kind of behavior is unacceptable.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
Sometimes the job can feel a bit like doing homework all day every day, and that can be tedious. But the fun part is when there's a challenge. Engineering is fundamentally problem solving and that's the best part of any engineering job. I think what I look forward to every day is learning new things and being able to apply the things I already know.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
My husband stays home with our kids. It wasn't really planned in advance, but he got laid off and we were able to live off of my salary, so he just didn't go back to work. It's incredibly helpful to have someone who can deal with doctor's appointments and days off and sick kids. I know it doesn't work for everyone, but it's how I deal. And the more he stays home the more he takes ownership of the house and kids - there's a definite learning curve involved in that.
7. What do you define success as?
Success is just being happy - because if you're happy, your spouse and kids will be happy too. And knowing that you work to live, not live to work. And it helps when your boss thinks that, too.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Tenacity - if you give up every time something gets hard, you'll never get anywhere.
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
My boss at my second job was my biggest mentor to date. He legitimately cared about my career and actively worked to make my goals happen. He taught me that getting your calculations marked up doesn't mean that you're stupid and that a sense of humor goes a long way in having fun at work and making others feel at ease.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
I don't remember any specific advice I've literally been told, but the advice I'd give my younger self is that just because something is hard doesn't mean that I'm dumb; it just means that something is hard. And the advice I'd pass on is to dream bigger than you think you should because the world is a BIG place and you can have a huge impact.
I was born in Toledo, OH, but I grew up mostly in South Florida. I went to Florida State where I got a BS and an MS in civil engineering (structural emphasis). I've been working as a structural (bridges, specifically) engineer since 2001. Engineering wasn't really on my radar until a couple years into college. I thought I wanted to be an architect, but a semester of architecture school taught me that I did not enjoy it, had no aptitude for it, and that it was a lot more schooling than I thought it was (and this was already during my junior year of college, so it would have taken another 5 years to get a useful architecture degree - It was a time commitment I wasn't willing to make).
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
Currently I work for the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver, CO. RTD is in the process of constructing quite a bit of commuter rail, as well as some light rail extensions, with plans to expand even further in the future. My role as structural engineer is to review bridge and stations structures plans for compliance with design codes and RTD's requirements. I review a lot of plans and calculations, but I also manage people, coordinate with consultants and other disciplines and the contractors, and investigate existing structures for capacity. I make recommendations on how to proceed with design and how the project could save money through innovation.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
I use my engineering degree every day. I review a lot of prestressed and reinforced concrete, as well as structural steel and even some timber. It's been interesting at RTD because the structures run the gamut - it's not just bridges for the commuter rail, it can also include highway bridges, retaining walls, and station structures such as canopies and small buildings. Being a structural engineer also affords me the opportunity to use a lot of engineering knowledge that is not structural - I have to be familiar with highway design and geotechnical engineering as well.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Honestly I have never been discriminated against for being a woman (that I know of). The people I have worked with have been completely great in that they don't judge on what you look like, but on what you know. I do know women who have had inappropriate comments made toward them, though. I think my advice is essentially to be strong and have a sense of humor. Generally speaking, I don't think most people are sexist anymore, but they do try to push your buttons. If something is said in jest, I take it in jest - but if someone crosses the line, I have no problem putting them in their place and making it clear that kind of behavior is unacceptable.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
Sometimes the job can feel a bit like doing homework all day every day, and that can be tedious. But the fun part is when there's a challenge. Engineering is fundamentally problem solving and that's the best part of any engineering job. I think what I look forward to every day is learning new things and being able to apply the things I already know.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
My husband stays home with our kids. It wasn't really planned in advance, but he got laid off and we were able to live off of my salary, so he just didn't go back to work. It's incredibly helpful to have someone who can deal with doctor's appointments and days off and sick kids. I know it doesn't work for everyone, but it's how I deal. And the more he stays home the more he takes ownership of the house and kids - there's a definite learning curve involved in that.
7. What do you define success as?
Success is just being happy - because if you're happy, your spouse and kids will be happy too. And knowing that you work to live, not live to work. And it helps when your boss thinks that, too.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Tenacity - if you give up every time something gets hard, you'll never get anywhere.
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
My boss at my second job was my biggest mentor to date. He legitimately cared about my career and actively worked to make my goals happen. He taught me that getting your calculations marked up doesn't mean that you're stupid and that a sense of humor goes a long way in having fun at work and making others feel at ease.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
I don't remember any specific advice I've literally been told, but the advice I'd give my younger self is that just because something is hard doesn't mean that I'm dumb; it just means that something is hard. And the advice I'd pass on is to dream bigger than you think you should because the world is a BIG place and you can have a huge impact.