Women in Construction: Student Leader Eve Gehlhausen
Event Date: March 7, 2022
Why did you choose the CEM program?
I chose the CEM program because I knew I wanted to be involved in construction somehow through my engineering degree. After learning more about CE and CEM, I knew that CEM was a better fit for me personally since it is more of the management side rather than design. I get to follow my passions with my degree and meet like minded people through the major and my career.
Why are you interested in construction engineering as a discipline?
The process of construction has always interested me and I've loved getting to see the whole process occur ever since I was little. I like how construction allows you to create something from nothing and bring innovation and new ideas along the way. The field is always changing which is another aspect I enjoy, the day to day of a construction engineer will never look the same.
What student programs/groups are you a part of and your position in it?
I am part of Beta Tau and am currently the Secretary. I'm also involved in CEF and the WinC programs through CEM.
What skills do you need to have to be a student leader?
To be an effective student leader, you have to be adaptable and understanding. Nobody here is going through the same things you are and nobody brings the same life experiences to Purdue that you do so it's important to keep that in mind and always be flexible when working with other students.
What are your main responsibilities?
My responsibilities as the Secretary of Beta Tau are sending out emails to all of our members about various things. I also attend all of the executive team meetings with our advisors to work through all of our different responsibilities as a club.
What projects have you worked on in coursework or your internship where you needed to be a leader?
Most group projects throughout my time in Purdue have required someone to be a leader on the team and a lot of the time, I am doing that. In my internships, I've had to be a leader for the younger intern who joined the company so that she knew what she was working on and was able to successfully complete tasks that were given to her. Along with that, I've helped lead various projects alongside the Project Manager by completing various responsibilities depending on the project I was working on.
What about this role helps you with your schooling and in the construction industry?
I think being a student leader requires a lot of responsibility and time management which helps me stay on track in school and will help prepare me for my career in industry as well. It also helps me be more confident and willing to step outside my comfort zone and take on various tasks that I am not familiar with but that provide learning opportunities for me.
How has being a student leader prepared you for after graduation?
Being a student leader has prepared me for my career post-graduation by giving me an opportunity to serve on a team and have various responsibilities that people expect me to complete for the success of the club and our events. I think having this responsibility and learning how to act on that has prepared me to step up and be prepared for what my career will throw at me.
Any advice for incoming FYE students?
I came into CEM not knowing much about construction which was intimidating at first but I quickly realized that a lot of others were in the same boat as me. After the first internship, you'll feel much more confident and knowledgeable and be prepared to take on more classes with ease. My piece of advice for any incoming FYE students would be to branch out and make friends within CEM. Our major is small and you will be around the same people in classes and extracurriculars throughout the entire program and having a group of friends to do homework or projects with is immensely helpful!