Sandra Asare-Asiedu

Like many students at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), I heard about the campus while I was at Montgomery College pursuing my Associate's in Construction Management. It was through my involvement in the college’s Student Construction Association (SCA) club meeting that I heard about USG for the first time. The program coordinator at the time had come to speak about USG and the wonderful opportunities it had to offer. One of the points he spoke about that got me interested was the fact that transferring from MC to USG was a smooth process, as the courses at MC are very aligned with the program offerings at USG.

I chose to pursue my Bachelor’s in Construction Management Technology through the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at USG because it was closer than the main campus. Attending my classes at USG also allowed me greater flexibility to take classes during the evenings and to work full-time during the day.

There are tons of clubs and organizations at USG that keep students involved. During our return to campus from the COVID-19 lockdown, I joined the International Club and the Ladies in Tech. The intent was to build campus connections, learn about other cultures and gain in-depth knowledge in tech.

During the summer of 2022, I interned with PCC Construction, located in the Washington, D.C. area, where I worked as a pre-construction estimator. In this position, I performed takeoffs and determined the cost of the materials and pieces of equipment needed for various construction projects, including apartment buildings, airports, and educational institutions, just to mention a few. This opportunity really helped me gain key skills in my field as it relates to estimation, software usability, problem-solving and critical analysis.

My anticipated graduation date is the end of Fall 2022. Upon graduation, I plan on returning to the company I interned for as a full-time employee, hone my skills, and become proficient in the field of construction management. I also aspire to inspire other women through my involvement with industry organizations such as the National Association of Women in Construction (NWIC) to join the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, as it is still a predominantly male-dominated environment. Hopefully, introducing young women to AEC, possibly through high school curriculums, job fairs, and college clubs will break the barriers of seeing the industry as solely male-dominated.