Ladonna Smith
Being the only female student in the classroom is the norm for Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology student Ladonna Smith of Mount Vernon.
She will be the only woman in the program’s graduating class this May and has been outnumbered by male counterparts throughout most of her college journey.
“It can be daunting when you step into a classroom and nobody looks like you,” she said. “I was honestly scared at first, because sometimes you just want to blend in.”
As time progressed, she became more confident. Things started to click when she joined the campus SWE chapter (Society of Women Engineers).
She credits this small, but tight-knit, group with helping to combat feelings of isolation.
Ladonna’s experience has made her determined to leave a space for those following in her footsteps by recruiting newer students to join.
After graduation, Ladonna is eager to work in a field where she can make an impact on the planet.
“I am interested in being out in the field and helping the environment as best I can.”