As March is Women’s History Month, I’m taking this opportunity to recognize the extraordinary contributions of women throughout history and to celebrate the impact women continue to make in our profession today.
Structural engineering has long been shaped by innovation, resilience, and leadership. Women engineers have helped design our skylines, strengthen our communities, advance seismic research, and mentor the next generation — often while overcoming barriers that required not only technical excellence, but courage and persistence.
At SEAOSC, we are proud of the talented women who serve on our Board, lead our committees, contribute to our technical programs, and elevate our profession every day. Their leadership strengthens our organization and broadens our perspective.
But celebration alone is not enough.
Women’s History Month also reminds us of our responsibility — to foster inclusion, to expand opportunity, and to ensure that structural engineering is a profession where all talented individuals can thrive. That means:
- Supporting equitable pathways to leadership
- Creating inclusive professional spaces
- Mentoring and sponsoring emerging engineers
- Challenging outdated assumptions
- Building workplaces where diverse voices are heard and valued
Engineering is fundamentally about solving complex problems. Diverse teams solve problems better. When we cultivate environments where different perspectives are welcomed and respected, we elevate both our profession and the communities we serve.
This month, I encourage each of us to take action:
- Recognize and thank a woman leader or colleague who has influenced your career
- Invite a young engineer to participate in SEAOSC
- Support mentorship and outreach efforts
- Reflect on how we can continue building a profession that reflects the diversity of our communities
The future of structural engineering depends on the strength of our talent — and talent exists everywhere. Our role as leaders is to ensure opportunity does too.
Thank you to the women who engineer, who lead, who innovate, and who inspire. SEAOSC is stronger because of you.
With appreciation,
Maria Mohammed
President, SEAOSC
