Professional Women in Building provides Michigan State University construction management students with mentors, awards scholarships
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EmailOn Oct. 24, the SPDC's Construction Management Program hosted the Greater Lansing Area National Association of Home Builders PWB Council’s monthly meeting. This event served as MSU’s Professional Women Builders Student Organization kick-off.
On Oct. 24, the School of Planning, Design and Construction’s Construction Management Program hosted the Greater Lansing Area National Association of Home Builders Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council’s monthly meeting. This event served as MSU’s Professional Women Builders Student Organization kick-off.
Construction management graduate and undergraduate female students, alumni and friends were invited. During this event, industry members talked to students in group settings in a speed networking fashion.
“I learned that we will all have unique paths we venture down throughout our careers and to embrace learning from each one of them,” said senior Rachel Boerma.
“I have always thought I had to know exactly what position and job I wished to do, but learned that it is all a learning experience. It takes time to find the perfect fit, but you should learn to love the process.”
Each attending student was officially assigned a mentor as a follow-up to the event. The mentorship program was started at this event by student mentees and alumni/local PWB chapter industry mentors selecting their preferred pairings. The mentors and mentees will meet on a regular basis to help create a community of support for women in the building industry.
“I think it is great to have a fellow woman as my building mentor. By having a known group of leaders to reach out to with questions and advice, it gives a great deal of ease and sense of community as I near graduation and set out on my career journey,” Boerma said.
Additionally at the event, Boerma and master’s student Hannah Baird were awarded 2018 NAHB PWB scholarships.
In order to be eligible for a scholarship, students must have a preference to work in the residential side of the industry upon graduation, experience with the residential construction industry, academic excellence, and have evidence of leadership via engagement in enrichment activities.
“It means a great deal not only to have been selected to receive this scholarship, in general, but to represent MSU, the Construction Management Program, and women in construction,” Boerma said.
To learn more about the CM/PWB Mentorship Program, please contact CM Associate Professor Sinem Mollaoglu at sinemm@msu.edu.
