Melissa Arcila ’17, a project engineer/assistant project manager for general contractor NV2A, also credits family for her career path. “They were a big influence,” she says. Her mother reminded her often that construction was a “pretty foolproof” job choice. Arcila saw it firsthand growing up because her stepfather had his own remodeling business. Long before she got to FIU, Arcila would accompany him in the field. Today Arcila has worked on more than a dozen projects around Miami, including the Port of Miami Terminal B, Paraiso Bayviews condo waterfront development, Gran Paraiso luxury condos, 1000 Museum residential condos, Aventura Mall and Port Aventura. As an undergraduate student in construction management, Arcila participated in as many extracurricular activities as she could. “I was diligent. I did the competitions,” she says. “It helped me understand the field and the opportunities within the industry.” More than once, Arcila says participating in the competitions allowed her to become familiar with industry concepts prior to being introduced to them in the classroom (“so that’s why you have to do a safety plan”). Arcila speaks highly of the curriculum. “Everything I learned in my classes I use on the job. All of it was relevant. And I’d have to say everyone was pretty honest with me about what to expect. I can’t say there’s anything I wish I had been told.” “I have a passion for my job,” she says. “It’s not a burden to come to work. I truly get excited about construction and enjoy sharing my knowledge with others.” Similar to Valle, Arcila says being a woman in a male-dominated industry hasn’t been an issue. “I’m very good at what I do, and I try to communicate effectively,” she says. “I’m also constantly trying to troubleshoot. I don’t sit around and wait for information to come to me. I do my research, and I’m proactive in reaching out to ask questions. “I see myself as an equal, so I’m treated as an equal,” she continues. “I believe in myself to the point where others want to invest in me.” When asked what she would say to other young women who aren’t sure whether construction is a good career choice, she says, “We’re few and far between, and I would encourage them to consider it. It’s a great career that builds your self confidence.”
By the Numbers
A breakdown of women by occupation sector in the construction industry: Sales & Office................................... 45% Professional & Management.............. 31% Natural Resources, Construction & Maintenance................................. 21% Service Occupations.......................... 1.5% Production, Transportation & Material Moving................................ 1.4% While women in the United States still make an average of 80 cents for every dollar men make, in construction it’s 97 cents.
Shraddha takes on South Florida
The trend of more women in construction isn’t confined to this country. As an architecture student finishing up her five-year undergraduate program at Kathmandu Engineering College, Shraddha Shrestha knew she wanted to leave her native Nepal to pursue a master’s in construction management in the United States. She liked the diversity she saw on FIU’s website, so she moved halfway around the world to join Moss School students.
“Nepal is a small country, and there are not many women in construction,” Shrestha says. “Going to job sites, I saw very few women.” Shrestha is enjoying her FIU experience in more ways than one.
“I’ve definitely found the diversity that I was looking for. I have students from India, China and South America in my classes,” says Shrestha, who is working as a graduate assistant for Moss School professor Nipesh Pradhananga. In addition, she’s enjoying the more high tech method of teaching. “I’m finding the technological aspect of the way things are taught here is much easier than the more traditional methods of teaching back home.” After finishing her master’s at FIU, Shrestha says she would like to work for two years to gain practical knowledge of the industry before returning to Nepal. FIU College of Engineering & Computing 13