What I Do Aloha mai kākou! My name is Tiffany, and I'm an electrical engineer. I specialize in the power utility industry, specifically in high voltage transmission and distribution. My areas of expertise are primarily in electrical planning and design. I'm currently a registered professional engineer in the State of California.
Why Engineering? Growing up in Honolulu, HI, I learned early on that energy resources can be limited on an isolated island in the Pacific. This is why I chose to pursue a career path in electrical engineering, and subsequently, energy. It's a field that needs more engineers, as the future brings forth more challenges of energy limitations and environmental responsibility. I wanted to contribute to Hawai`i overcoming the challenges of energy limitations with an education in engineering.
School Days I attended the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. I graduated in 2013 with my B.S. in Electrical Engineering, specializing in the area of electrophysics.
Challenges As I continue to progress upwards in my career, I've come to understand that engineering school and building a sustainable career was the very least of my challenges. The greatest challenge is being a minority in a system that has been institutionalized by males throughout the years. With the growth of diversity and inclusion being stagnant at times, it is paramount that women continue to advocate for tomorrow's women in OUR ever-growing field of engineering.
Want to be an Engineer? I went to an all-girls school back in the day, and at the time, there was not really a high advocacy for young girls to pursue careers in S.T.E.M. If a young girl wanted to pursue it, then it was often questionable. Times have changed (hopefully), but I assume there is still pushback in one form or another for females to be members of this highly male-dominated industry. If you love science, technology, or math, then leave it at that. You can succeed in what you love, despite any background noise. There are still many women (as myself) to always lend a helping hand, so I highly encourage finding mentors or a support group such as the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). SWE is a great way to meet other women (and men) to bond together as professionals in this industry. "We can have unity in diversity and diversity in unity. We don't have to be like one another to enjoy sisterhood.