ASCE Environment and Water Resources Institute President Marge Bedessem and President Elect Professor Shirley Clark On Professional Development Across Generations and Recognizing Our Own Bias

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has both a female President (Marge Bedessem) and President Elect (Shirley Clark) of their Environment and Water Resources Institute (EWRI), which is a group of technical professionals (not just engineering) who are interested in environmental and water resource issues. They come from different backgrounds, with Marge working for a consulting firm in Wyoming and Shirley Chairing the Civil Engineering Department at Penn State Harrisburg. Both have worked to promote Women in STEM.

This Extraordinary Conversation addresses the the importance of mentorship and recognition for women in male-dominated fields, specifically in civil engineering and related professions, and the role associations can play in supporting women.

They also address the challenges faced by women at different stages of their careers and the potential harm that can result from implicit or explicit biases - and recognize that women also engage in bias when reviewing applications for hire or promotion. They stress the need for more opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels and proactive measures to address biases in hiring. The conversation also covers professors of practice in academia and considering non-traditional candidates for such roles.

Marge and Shirley emphasize the importance of networking and making connections in one's career - following up on those connections with personalized emails or messages - and the role of organizations like ASCE and EWRI in promoting and supporting women in engineering and water professions. Finally, they highlighted the Women Water Nexus initiative - started by early and mid-career women in ASCE EWRI - as an example of efforts to promote and support young women professionals in the field.