This summer, the women engineering interns were given an assignment to choose a woman engineer at Altieri to interview for the wom(EN)gineer blog. They decided to individually interview an engineer from each of the four trades (MEPF) to get different perspectives. They also collectively came up with the same questions to pose to each of the engineers they would be interviewing.
Elizabeth is a recent high school graduate, shortly heading to Cornell University to study Mechanical Engineering. This is her second summer as an Altieri intern. Elizabeth chose to interview fire protection engineer, Sheri Lussier.
What is your favorite part about being a woman in STEM?
Sheri mentioned that being a woman engineer actually helped her stand out in the field, whether it was at a job site or a coordination meeting. In most places, she was treated well by others and for the most part, it was a “novelty having [her] around”. While she did encounter one person who gave her a hard time a while back, she was able to handle the situation respectfully and didn’t let it affect her confidence.
What is your favorite part about Fire Protection engineering?
Surprisingly, Sheri didn’t plan to go into engineering from the beginning. She studied anthropology in college but struggled to find work in that field. She ended up finding a job being a bookkeeper for a fire protection contractor. From there, she enrolled in a training program in Providence, RI where she discovered her love for problem-solving and the technical work of the fire protection trade. What Sheri enjoys most now about fire protection is researching code and collaborating with other engineers to come up with an effective design.
Were there any certifications or skills that have been useful during your career and have helped you to stand out?
Sheri didn’t grow up with the amount of digital resources we have now; computers weren’t even common during the early part of her career, everything was hand-drawn. Unlike today, there was really no place to learn about CAD, so she had to learn it on the job. Over time, she earned a state license in fire protection and completed all four levels of the NICET fire protection certification. Today, Sheri stresses having strong Revit skills in order to succeed in the industry and recommended the MathWorks Certification Program as an additional way to gain a leg up.
Elizabeth’s Reflection
Sheri’s journey reminds me that a career in engineering isn’t always a straight line. It can be something very unexpected that intrigues us the most. For example, Sheri’s daughter initially majored in mechanical engineering, but later found her passion in fire protection, which is the industry she works in today. I am reminded to keep my options open and to explore all parts of the engineering field, as the most unfamiliar areas can be where I find the most interest.
As an intern, I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by a great community of women engineers.
Elizabeth Samuel