When you were in high school, were you encouraged to pursue math and science to the full extent of your capabilities? Were you aware of the diversity of rewarding transportation careers available? Many young people, especially young women, are not. According to the FHWA, women comprise just 8% of engineers. Many of us know from personal experience that women are underrepresented in other transportation fields, too.

At this year's Annual Conference, WTS International and the US Department of Transportation kicked off a national initiative for girls and young women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This initiative, called Transportation YOU, will introduce younger girls ages 13-18 to the broad array of transportation careers through hands-on interactive activities, mentoring programs, field experiences and a national "virtual" community.

Transportation YOU will provide a wonderful opportunity for us to promote WTS's mission of transforming the transportation industry through the advancement of women. Stay tuned for more information about the initiative and WTS Minnesota's involvement in the coming months!

This May, I had the honor of representing WTS Minnesota at the WTS Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA.  Conference planners filled three jam-packed days with thought-provoking panel discussions, speakers, infrastructure tours, and opportunities to informally connect with WTS members from around the country.   
 

One element I most valued about the conference was the high quality pool of speakers invited by WTS International. My personal highlights were hearing Secretary Ray Lahood and journalist Laura Ling.  Secretary Lahood announced the official launch of Transportation YOU, a new initiative encouraging WTS members to help teenage women explore careers in transportation. Secretary Lahood challenged WTS members to embrace Transportation YOU as an investment in their community and in shaping future colleagues in local industries.  As I reflect on the relationships that influenced my own years as a teenager, I am excited by new opportunities for WTS members to actively engage in the development of young transportation talent here in Minnesota. 

In her keynote address, journalist Laura Ling described her 140-day experience as a North Korean prisoner.  She was captured at the Chinese-Korean border while researching female-trafficking in that region.  Ling believes the connection she developed with her female prison guard helped alleviate some of the sense of isolation and emotional hardship she experienced during her captivity.  Ling shared the message that women of any background have a commonality and the ability to build connections simply because they are both women.  This idea resonates strongly with WTS' mission to advance women in transportation careers and validates the regular efforts of WTS members to connect with other women and support their professional growth.

Throughout the week's activities, I enjoyed getting to know other WTS Minnesota members, including Christina Miller, Gina Baas, Dawn Spanhake, Xuan Di, and Avital Barnea.  In addition, conversations with WTS members from around the country exposed me to the wide variety of ways women are supporting their WTS chapters and creating relevant experiences for their members.  Attending the annual conference increased my appreciation of the WTS mission and the commitment, enthusiasm, and creativity its members offer in supporting women's transportation careers.

Minnesota chapter attendees at the 2011 WTS Annual Conference, from left to right: Avital Barnea, Dawn Spanhake, Gina Baas, Fay Cleaveland, Christina Miller, Xuan Di