B.S., Civil & Environmental Engineering, Class of 2026
Vice President of External Affairs, UC Berkeley Chi Epsilon
Civil Engineering Intern, Kimley-Horn
“It’s more than just counting potholes.”
Compiled by Pooja Nerkar
What got you into Civil & Environmental Engineering?
I’ve always been interested in how cities work and how infrastructure can improve people’s daily lives. Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley has given me the opportunity to explore those systems in depth and think about how we can build more efficient, equitable communities.
Tell us about a class that helped shape your interests.
This semester, I took CYPLAN 114: Introduction to Urban & Regional Transportation with Professor Karen Trapenberg Frick.
Our first project focused on developing transportation improvements between Berkeley and the NASA Ames Research Center. We researched the Berkeley Space Center and regional plans by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and presented our recommendations to NASA and Berkeley representatives.
Our second project—my favorite—looked at transportation equity in Oakland. My team proposed a more inclusive approach for OakDOT’s 311 reporting system. We even went into the field to count potholes in a neighborhood, where we ended up in a great conversation with a local resident about street safety. That interaction showed me the real value of community engagement in engineering.
What are your future career aspirations?
This course sparked a new interest in public outreach alongside transportation planning. I want to help design infrastructure that not only functions well but also reflects the needs and voices of the communities it serves.
Professor at Cal that made an impact on you?
Professor Karen Trapenberg Frick. Her course exposed me to the breadth of opportunities in transportation and emphasized the value of equity and real-world engagement in civil engineering.