- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Women in Construction Week: Anne Turner

John Hill — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 20:13:26 +0000

As a child growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Anne Turner, assistant professor in the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has always had a love of math and science, especially physics. It came as no surprise to her family when she decided to become an engineer. “There was a project in fifth grade where we had to design a house, and I thought I wanted to be an architect,” Turner said. “Then I realized I liked the math and science part more than the art part. I came home and told my family I was going to study engineering, and my parents were like, ‘duh.’” She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University and master’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech. She started her career working at Simpson, Gumpertz, and Heger, Inc., in Waltham, Massachusetts. “I worked for five years at a structural engineering consulting firm, where I did a lot of seismic analysis of nuclear power plants,” Turner said. “As we all learned in 2011, when earthquakes and nuclear power plants are involved, you want them to be as safe as possible. It wasn’t until Fukushima happened that everyone knew what my job was.” Turner is referring to the Fukushima Daaichi Accident that happened on March 11, 2011, in Japan. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, a 15-meter tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors, causing a nuclear accident that was rated level 7 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. There have been no deaths or cases of radiation sickness from the nuclear accident, but more than 100,000 people were evacuated from their homes as a preventative measure. She later spent six months in 2008 working on site at the Idaho National Laboratory overseeing construction of a nuclear power facility. “It may seem intimidating to be a woman on the construction site, but you should know that you have the knowledge and the expertise to be there,” Turner said. “When I first went to Idaho to be on the construction site, I was 26 years old in a pink coat surrounded by all men. I remembered I was the representative of the owner out there making sure things were built correctly, and I had to be assertive and understand that I deserved to be there.” In 2018, Turner joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as an assistant professor. Her courses include Reinforced Concrete Design, Structural Steel Design, Structural Analysis, Introduction to Environmental Engineering, and the Professional Engineering Seminar and Senior Design. She’s also the coordinator of the Civil and Construction Engineering Program, which has about 80 students. Up until this school year, Turner was the only full-time female faculty member in the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering. “I’ve been in the minority since I started college, so it’s not out of the ordinary for me anymore,” Turner said. “At work, I’ve realized I’ve often been the only woman in the room. I think women need to be assertive. I understand that I know what I am talking about, I have expertise, and my ideas are worth being discussed.” In addition to work and school, Turner has also served on the Faculty Senate and is the faculty advisor for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and is a member of the board of directors for the Arkansas Chapter of the American Concrete Institute. She’s also earning her Ph.D. in civil engineering and is expected to graduate this year from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Adesoba selected as New Face of Tech Challenge Winner

John Hill — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 19:00:20 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student is one of 40 women from across the country that was recognized as an up and coming female professional in the technology industry as a winner of the .�� Originally from Nigeria, this New Face of Tech winner, , is currently a 28-year-old, second-year graduate student at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock where she’s pursuing her M.S. degree in information science and a M.S. in information quality.�� “It’s proof that my dreams and career aspirations in tech are valid,” Adesoba said. “I feel that my experiences have been valued. It proves that I am on the right track. It gives me inspiration to continue my education. It took courage to transition into the tech industry. As much as everyone can dream, it makes my dreams come alive all the more by being selected for this scholarship.” The New Face of Tech Scholarship Program is intended to fund and fuel the aspirations of talented female college students pursuing careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). The life-changing prize package includes a $1,500 grant, career-coaching sessions with HARMAN executives, and JBL products. Winners were selected based on the quality of their submission, including a demonstrated commitment to their career dream in tech and a clear vision for how winning the New Face of Tech Program will help them accelerate progress toward their dream. “The funding will help pay for academic and tech resources, including certifications that will accelerate the launch of my career,” Adesoba said. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in statistics from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, Adesoba worked as a credit risk analyst with Nigerian banks before joining the information science program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I felt like this would be an opportunity to understand how data governance worked, especially for large organizations,” Adesoba said. “My communication and interaction with my program, advisor, and alumni have been very open, supportive, and receptive. It’s been a great journey since I started last year at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. There are people who support my academic dreams and career goals. And my husband was coming for his Ph.D. at ��Vlog��ýMS, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to be close to my family as well.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Adesoba has worked as a graduate assistant with the offices of eLearning and STAR, where she conducted research on the most effective learning management systems in use at universities across the country. She is now a graduate research assistant with the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), where she conducts research on video transcription and speech to text techniques for YouTube tracker development. Additionally, she analyzed and visualized YouTube video behavioral data. “We are extremely proud of Adeola Adesoba for winning the prestigious and competitive ‘New Face of Tech Scholarship’ that encourages women participation in STEAM disciplines – an effort that we champion and celebrate at COSMOS,” said Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy endowed chair and distinguished professor of information science and director of COSMOS. “Only 40 students were awarded the scholarship from across the nation. I congratulate Adeola for this commendable accomplishment that puts ��Vlog��ý Little Rock among the nation’s top schools!” Adesoba, who serves as vice president of the Society of Women Engineers student chapter at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, said it’s important for more women to get involved in the STEM field so they can provide more opportunities for women who are typically underrepresented in college and the career industry. “When women are represented in the STEM field, it gives opportunities for younger women to look up to other women in the field,” Adesoba said. “It makes you feel like you aren’t alone. These women represent opportunities for other women who are striving to go higher. When more women are working in STEM, those barriers are broken down, and doors will open for younger women to enter the STEM field. Women have a lot to contribute to the STEM field. By giving a lift to the dreams of women and girls, it provides opportunities for others to be inspired.” After she graduates with her master’s degree in December, Adesoba plans to earn a doctorate as well as pursue her professional dream to become a data scientist/data governance expert who helps businesses and organizations solve complex problems with data and machine learning techniques while also using technology for social good. “I want every other international student to know that there are a lot of opportunities around you,” Adesoba said. “Look at what communities can help you with your academic pursuits and career goals. You shouldn’t be afraid to try new things and to put yourself out there. There are others out there who will support your journey. I would recommend LinkedIn. You meet a lot of people and get a lot of information. To have a rich student experience, you need to look on and off campus to have a well-rounded experience.”

EIT employees take pie in the face to support women engineers

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 13:15:25 +0000

Vernard Henley, assistant dean of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Engineering and Information Technology, grudgingly agreed that taking a pie in the face in front of a cheering crowd of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and employees on Pi Day was worth it to support female engineering students.�� “I feel awful sticky,” he said. “It’s for a good cause, but I didn’t get anything out of it except for a wet beard!” Henley and Amy Frets, EIT director of student services, were the two lucky winners who received a pie in the face after earning the most votes. Frets, who had been inside advising a student, lamented the fact that she did not get to see Henley take a pie to the face. “It feels so gross, but it tastes so good,” she said. “I will do anything for the students.” Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant pi (3.14), which is celebrated on March 14 (3/14). The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Society of Women Engineers raised $634 by holding a bake sale, selling T-shirts, and having an online auction of pies donated by students and faculty. For every $1 spent, a person could cast a vote for one of seven EIT employees who volunteered to get a pie in the face. The other volunteers included Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology; Dr. Steven Minsker, professor of computer science; Erin Flowers, education counselor; Dr. Hank Bray, chair of the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering; and Dr. David Luneau, professor of electronic and computer engineering technology. In the final minutes of the fundraiser, the top three volunteers with the most votes (Henley, Frets, and Whitman) all worked hard to keep themselves from getting chosen. Frets donated $20 in favor of Henley, while Vernard donated $65 and even offered to match donations from the crowd toward Frets and Whitman. “I have a cash app, and I’m not afraid to use it,” Henley said. “I am dedicated to the university, and I want to stay here until late into the evening to work. I can’t do that if I have all of this sticky stuff on my face.” In the last five minutes, it looked as if Henley had been successful in his venture to keep himself out of the hot seat, with Frets and Whitman taking the top two spots. However, Whitman snuck in a last-minute $15 donation toward Henley’s camp to keep himself out of the spotlight.

Amy Frets is all smiles after taking a pie in the face during the Pi Day fundraiser for the Society of Women Engineers. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

“It’s the best money I spent in a long time. This is a fun event for a great cause,” Whitman said. “We are supporting the Society of Women Engineers sending students to participate in the national conference.” Some members of the crowd actively lobbied for who they wanted to see get a pie in the face. “When I went to contribute, I put my $10 in Dean Whitman’s cup,” said Kesha Robinson, administrative assistant in the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering. “Hank Bray is my boss, so I told people not to put any tickets in his cup. I love Dean Whitman, but I didn’t think he had enough votes. I love that the volunteers can try to barter themselves out of it. The students are making more money out of the volunteers than anyone else. This is an awesome fundraiser.” Echo Davis, a sophomore environmental engineering major and vice president of the Society of Women Engineers, said the group is thrilled for the university community’s support. “SWE is a noncompetition-based organization that encourages women to pursue engineering,” Davis said. “We take tours of local sites so that members can get an inside look into the life of an engineer.” Anyone interested in joining the Society of Women Engineers can contact Echo Davis at ejdavis@ualr.edu or 501-701-8760. In the upper right photo, Assistant Dean Vernard Henley takes a pie in the face during a fundraiser for the Society of Women Engineers. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

Zaire Husband: Future Cyber Activist

Janea Snyder — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 13:03:18 +0000

For Zaire Husband, choosing a college was about finding a place with a program that best fit her career interests. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was close to home, affordable, and had a Computer Science program that fit her needs. “I have always loved computers,” Zaire, 21, said. “Computer science to me is like learning a language, learning how to tell the computer what to do.” She’s an artist too, and carries a doodle pad around with her everywhere she goes. “Digital art is probably my favorite type of art because you can showcase your art across the world with a single click,” she said. Zaire will graduate in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in information assurance. She has the perfect career in cybersecurity all mapped out. “I want to be a hacker, security engineer, and architect. Essentially you’re working with networks and infrastructure to keep other hackers out – like a cyber vigilante. You try to get into the mind of a criminal and try to break into your own software. It’s like being the criminal, the detective, and the police all in one package.” She’s also passionate about sharing with other young women the possibilities of a STEM career. “I’m really passionate about women in computer science, especially women of color,” she said. “The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Computer Science division is pretty diverse. I have gained a diverse group of friends from all backgrounds and skin tones. However, the female to male ratio is still lacking, not just in Little Rock, but across the country.” When looking for a role model, Zaire had to look no further than to her parents. “My parents are big on education,” she said. “They know how hard it is for a young black female. I’m really blessed. I get help from school and my family, and it’s helped me be able to do things.” Husband hopes to herself be a mentor one day for young women. “I would like to inspire people the same way I’ve been inspired,” she said. “You need support from all directions. Many young people fear that they’re not good enough. Many younger people have a fear of math. It’s really hard for people in this country because we don’t put as much emphasis on it, and you need a strong foundation.” During Zaire’s freshman year, she lived on campus and joined the African American Female Initiative, which connected her with others and activities. She was actively involved with the Arkansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ARK-LSAMP) program, which strives to increase the number of minority students in STEM areas. She’s also gained hands-on skills and networked through internships. Dr. Jim Winter, director of the University Science Scholars and LSAMP, helped Husband get an internship with the Emerging Analytics Center during her freshman year, “He gave me a sense of direction, and for that I’ll be forever grateful.” In fall 2017, Husband interned at the Clinton Foundation where she worked in information technology and communications – and even met former President Bill Clinton. “My internships have helped me know what to expect and helped me network and meet contacts in the industry,” she said. Zaire also serves an EIT Ambassador, helping freshmen with homework and tutoring. She is involved with Society of Women Engineers, Cyber Security Club, ��Vlog��ýLR Alliance, and the Anime Club. Photos by Benjamin Krain

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student hopes to be Construction Intern of the Year

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 13:35:00 +0000

has always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps to become an engineer.�� “When I was young, growing up in my native Poland, he often took me to his job sites, which became my oversize playgrounds,” Osieczko said. “For years, I watched him in his work and came to love and sometimes understand what he did. I fell in love with the same profession.” Now she is hoping for a little help fulfilling that dream by competing in the Construction Intern Awards, where $50,000 in scholarship money is up for grabs. “All of my family is Europe, so I need my family at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to help me get votes,” she said. Osieczko needs your votes to move to the next round of the, which is offering a top scholarship of $10,000. You can once every 24 hours until 4 p.m. Oct. 3. The eight candidates who receive the most online votes will become semifinalists along with nine candidates selected by a committee. The scholarship program is designed to recognize the strongest construction interns in the industry and the companies with the best construction internship programs in the country. After moving to America with her husband, Thomas, and daughter, Noemi, Osieczko spent five years living in Alaska before the family made the move to Arkansas in 2007. As her daughter grew older, Osieczko realized it was the right time to go back to school. “I was thinking that if I don’t go back to school now, I will never go back,” she said. “I always wanted to be educated, but I never had the chance.” After joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2015, Osieczko is now treasurer of the ��Vlog��ý Little student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers and will serve as the bridge team captain at this year’s competition. She is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers. As a student, Osieczko will complete more than 800 hours of internship experience before graduating. For Osieczko, that meant finding the right company. “I decided to seek one in a company known for the kind of projects I hope to work on in my professional life,” she said. “I was fortunate enough to be offered an internship by Austin Bridge and Road of Irving, Texas.” At Austin Bridge and Road, Osieczko learned how to use computer programs, like AutoCad, AutoMath, and BeanPro, to manage concrete calculations and engineering designs. “Maybe the most important thing that I have taken away from my internship is consciousness of the need for keeping safety in mind at every stage of a project,” she said. “Every detail that can be calculated should be in the interest of immediate safety and long-term quality, which results in safety for all who work on and finally use the structure.”

EIT employees take pie in the face for a good cause

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 17:32:00 +0000

Three University of Arkansas at Little Rock employees from the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Technology graciously took pies in the face to raise money for the university’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. Three eager students got to shove a pie in the faces of Dean Lawrence Whitman, Dr. Steven Minsker, professor of computer science, and Amy Frets, EIT director of student services and retention, during Pi Day activities. Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant pi, which is celebrated on March 14 (3/14). The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Society of Women Engineers raised money by holding a bake sale, selling T-shirts, and holding an online auction of 20 pies donated by students and faculty. For every $1 spent, a person was able to cast a vote for one of seven EIT employees who volunteered to get a pie in the face. The other volunteers included Assistant Dean Vernard Henley; Ashley Henry-Saorrono, EIT senior recruitment and outreach coordinator; Dr. Mike Tramel, chair of the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering; and Treasure Williamson, EIT recruitment and outreach coordinator. Some volunteers worked hard to keep themselves from getting chosen. Tramel bought $50 worth of T-shirts and promptly placed his 50 votes for Dean Whitman. In the end, fundraiser organizers decided to use the top three people who received the most votes, leaving Whitman, Minsker, and Frets as the lucky winners. Olivia Pate, a sophomore majoring in geology and mathematics, said it was “very satisfying” to hit Minsker in the face with a pie, while Minsker said he would be happy to take a pie in the face every day for a good cause. “Who wouldn’t want to help out our future engineers?” Minsker said. “My only objection is that I am so good looking, and the crème covers up my good looks.” For more information about the Society of Women Engineers, contact Frets at amfrets@ualr.edu or Henry-Saorrono at alhenry@ualr.edu. In the upper right photo, Amy Frets, EIT director of student services and retention, and Dr. Steven Minsker, professor of computer science, stand next to the students who shoved pies in their faces to raise money for the Society of Women Engineers on Pi Day.��

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock