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Alumni Profiles

Aleya Abeshima

Alum., Bachelor's

Civil Engineering

Degree:
Civil and Environmental Engineering bachelor’s degree

Year graduated:
2019

Where are you working?:
Clark Construction Group

Aleya Abeshima

What is a typical day like?

I am working on the Washington State Convention Center addition project. As an engineer on a huge construction project, I am responsible for managing foundation subcontractors. On a typical day I handle documentation, payments and attend meetings to ensure that the work getting done in the field is on time and to expectations. My job involves meeting the owner’s requests and helping the subcontractors so they can do their job. I am just one person on a very large project team, so communicating and collaborating with others is also a daily occurrence. Everything works in unison, so if one thing is held up or a mistake is made, that can affect many other trades.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The thing I love most about my job is the direct impact on the community this job brings. As a first-time engineer, I have never worked on a project to completion. Once this project is finished, I will be able to witness the benefit it will bring others and be proud of the work that I put in. My job is bigger than myself and impacts the community around me, which is a huge motivator.

What are your future career goals?

In the future I hope to work my way up to management and eventually become a project executive. I hope to gain both field experience and management experience to be a project manager for Disney or other major developer.

Aleya Abeshima

How did your UW CEE degree prepare you for your career?

The UW CEE program has some of the best professors with experience and connections. They helped me understand the importance of getting an internship as well as prepared me for what was expected. I often spent extra time outside of class getting advice from my professors. The UW CEE curriculum is also very relevant to current industry regardless of the specialty you are interested in. The curriculum pushed me to learn about multiple disciplines, which in my career is important because on any given day I will run into Geotech reports, structural analyses, project schedules and more.

Did you have internships or other hands-on learning opportunities in school?

I completed three internships during my time at UW. I worked for Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, the Port of Seattle and Skanska. During my internships, I learned much about the construction industry and how different projects play a role in society.

Any advice for prospective students who are considering UW CEE?

UW CEE is a department that truly cares about your future success in whatever you want to accomplish. Take advantage of the opportunities and resources the department brings you and don’t be afraid to go above and beyond, because it will really benefit you in the long run.