Meet the Team
We’re a group of women looking to help inspire and empower minorities in Civil Engineering and Construction-related professions.
Click on a photo to learn about each member!
Gabriela Yáñez González
I am from Añasco, Puerto Rico. Growing up, construction of buildings, bridges and other structures always caught my attention. That's where my interest and love for civil engineering started. Currently, I am pursuing a doctoral degree in Structural Engineering form the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I am mostly interested in Structural Engineering because I find it fascinating how forces can act upon the built environment and how by understanding and analyzing them we can create more resilient structures.
When I was an undergrad in college at University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez, Sofía approached me and other girls with the idea of creating some sort of support group for women in the civil engineering field. We then started fostering and developing the idea into the community we know now and will continue to adapt for many years to come. I have always liked sharing the knowledge of Civil Engineering with everyone, big and small. By being in the Outreach Committee, I want to help create resources and educational content for everyone to learn, use and enjoy.
What I am proud of so far in my career is achieving my masters and continuing my academic journey to obtain the PhD. I am also proud of the Girls in Civil project and seeing throughout the years what it has transformed into and the people we have helped in the process. I want to through my work in Civil Engineering, help build a more equitable and resilient work. While uplifting and empowering the Girls in Civil as we help one another to be successful in this industry.
Olivia Spencer
I am from Greenville, South Carolina and am currently studying at Clemson University! I decided to study Civil Engineering after finding out about Humanitarian Engineering, which uses Civil and Environmental concepts to improve infrastructure and quality of life in high-need areas! I was volunteering a lot in high school and I realized I wanted to use my STEM background to help make improvements in at-risk areas !
I had been following GIC on instagram for about a year when the Outreach Committee opportunity came up! I am super interested in the female perspective on engineering and am constantly wanting to inspire more women to join the field. I would love to help educate the young population with this position as well and improve the way we view CE and its impact!
I also work with an organization called Clemson Engineers for Developing Communities and I have gotten to make impacts in local and international communities, as well as our own education system at my University. I want to improve the quality of life for as many people as I possibly can in a sustainable and equitable manner.
I'm from Aguadilla, PR. Pursuing a dual bachelor's degree in civil engineering and surveying and topography with a minor concentration in resilient infrastructure and sustainability in University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. I've decided to study civil engineering because I wanted to get my master's degree in architecture and surveying and topography because it complements and expands my knowledge. I have always been amazed on how such great structures can be designed and constructed and this is why I decided to stay in these amazing fields. I am most interested in project management due to the diversity this field has, and also because I have the chance to be some days at the office and other days in the field learning from different disciplines.
I heard from GIC from a workshop announced through Instagram. What made me interested in the outreach committee was to be able to provide my knowledge while still learning to different girls throughout the world. I've had the chance to get involved in different associations and also get the chance to compete in teams such as Steel Bridge and Concrete Canoe while representing Puerto Rico and gaining personal and professional skills. Getting involved in associations is something I highly recommend since it gives a lot of benefits and growth while also networking.
Keyshla M. González Lorenzo
I am from Brooklyn, New York studying Civil Engineering and Construction management at the New York City College of Technology. I have always been a problem solver, someone who has been interested in how things are made and growing up in a city has guided me towards the construction and surveyors that roam around.
I heard of GIC from Instagram, with the trend “Little Miss” where there were posts highlighting different disciplines of civil engineers. I was one of those people who reposted my story saying that it was me and saw other friends reposting with their character. I had really struggled in my first year of studying in civil engineering, because I was the only girl in class and rendered unnecessary attention. So finding the GIC page with comments and posts highlighting other girls made the field more welcoming with a positive community.
I had worked in the Architecture department of the NYC Department for the Aging. This division has a focus for the senior centers and my favorite part was the weekly adventures out around the different boroughs. My supervisor had let me lead the surveying of the different buildings and taught me a lot about what goes into accessible design.
Kate Tsui
I am a Surveying and Topography student at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) and the Outreach Manager for the ASCE UPRM Chapter for 2024-2025.
I’m a part of the Timber-Strong Design Build team, focusing on designing and constructing sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and structurally durable two-story wood light-framed buildings. I’ve also competed in the Sustainable Solutions and Concrete Corn hole competitions at the Southeast ASCE Student Symposium. My leadership and organizational skills have led to impactful workshops and activities for high school students, showcasing her commitment to community engagement.