Empowering the Next Generation of Engineers: A Conversation with Suzanne Beckstoffer and Makayla Headley

Check out the video below for an inspiring conversation with Suzanne Beckstoffer — President of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers — and Makayla Headley, a PhD engineering student. They share their personal journeys and reflections on the value of ABET. Suzanne and Makayla speak directly to students, parents and educators about how ABET ensures quality in STEM education and how that accreditation impacts real-world opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

• 🌍 Global Recognition: ABET-accredited programs are recognized worldwide, supporting both U.S. and international students in pursuing global careers.
• 🎓 Quality Assurance: ABET ensures that academic programs meet industry standards and prepare students for success in the workforce.
• 💼 Career Readiness: Many employers require ABET-accredited degrees for engineering positions, making accreditation a critical component of career pathways.
• 🧭 Early Exploration Matters: Both Suzanne and Makayla emphasize the importance of exploring STEM opportunities early—through career days, mentorship, and asking questions.
• 👩‍🔬 Encouragement for Women in STEM: Both guests advocate for multiple perspectives in engineering, especially more women entering the field.
• 🔍 Resources for Students: ABET.org is highlighted as a valuable tool for researching accredited programs, exploring STEM careers, and finding helpful resources.

Whether you’re a student dreaming about your future, a parent looking for guidance, or an educator shaping tomorrow’s innovators, this conversation offers practical insights and heartfelt encouragement.

👉 Explore more at ABET.org

Video Transript

Amanda: Have you ever thought, what makes a college or university program stand out from the rest?

Hello, my name is Dr. Amanda Taylor. I am the Senior Director of Global Communication and Marketing at a EAI is a nonprofit organization that partners with colleges and university programs in engineering, engineering, technology computing,and the applied natural sciences to ensure that students are prepared with the knowledge, skills,and experiences they need to make this world a safer and better place.

This short podcast is important for you to listen to as you consider what college or university program is right for you.

Today we have two amazing expert guests who are going to share more about their perspectives as STEM students and professionals and tell you a little bit more about ABET.

So without further ado, I'd like to turn the floor over to McKayla Hadley and Suzanne Beckstoffer, McKayla and Suzanne.

Thank you both so much for being here today. Would you both mind giving a quick introduction starting with you, Mikayla?

Mikayla: Hi, my name is Mikayla Headley. I'm currently a PhD student in engineering and science education at Clemson University. I got my bachelor's in chemical engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. And I worked with Northrop Grumman as a process engineer for like over a year. Got a lot of experience in industry, which made me decide I wanted to go back into higher education.

Suzanne: Hi, I am Suzanne Beckstoffer. I'm a ship builder. I have an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and I have an MBA and I spent 34 years with Newport News Shipbuilding, working on aircraft carriers and submarines and surface ships, and had all kinds of wonderful opportunities during that time, and continue to work in engineering and education.

Amanda: All right. Thanks again for being here today. So let's get right to the questions. So first, what are some common challenges that future STEM students face when navigating their college or career path?

Mikayla: I think the first thing is figuring out what type of engineering they even want to do. There’s a variety of engineering paths that they can choose. I think future STEM students, navigating that new world and space in higher education, is a challenge.

Suzanne: Agree with Mikayla. It's really hard to figure out exactly what kind of engineer you want to be or what you want to do with all that really fun math and science that you’ve been learning about. Some of the students that I've mentored recently have had the exact same issue. I'm getting a degree in computer engineering — what can I do with it? And one of the things that's been most useful for us working together is to go visit workplaces, go visit different industries and see how you might apply that degree in a different place. For example, we've taken them to financial institutions. I've had students work as interns over the summer at a large government lab, or at a large engineering company, or in a financial company. And all of those places need the skills that they're bringing with that ABET-accredited degree. But they're very different in what they do all day and what kind of things they accomplish. So it's kind of exciting to have all that world of possibilities. And at the same time, it's sort of daunting to figure out, you know, which one do I really want?

Mikayla: Yeah. To add, I think a part of that is What do engineers do? I knew that what I liked in high school was chemistry and engineering, but it's not necessarily what you think chemical engineering is. There’s probably a better field for that, like materials science engineering. So like you mentioned, taking your students on those visits really helps because it gives perspective on what engineers actually do—because they do a lot.

Suzanne: Absolutely. And from my own history, I wanted to build bridges. I thought bridges—still think bridges—are beautiful. I love them. But I couldn’t find a really great-paying job at the time that would let me build bridges. So instead, I kind of took a pivot and built ships. And ships are equally wonderful. You just never know.

Mikayla: They go under bridges.

Suzanne: They do. They do. Yes. It all goes together.

Amanda: So, for our next question—this one’s for both of you, but let’s start with Suzanne: What is ABET accreditation?

Suzanne: Great question. There are all kinds of things you can say about it, but in a nutshell, it’s a process of ensuring the quality of a program. It’s about making sure that when you go to a school, enroll in a program, and earn a degree, they’re doing what they said they were going to do. You’ll leave with a degree that equips you with the right skills to get a job in the field you’ve chosen—and you’ll know you’ve received a top-quality education. I always think of quality assurance—it’s a wonderful thing—and that’s really what ABET does.

Mikayla: Yeah. When I think about it—when you talk to students who want to be doctors or lawyers—they know what kind of schools they need to apply to. They know they have to take these big exams, and they also know not to go to schools that aren’t part of their profession’s specific accreditation system. So, if you know you want to be a doctor, you’re going to choose a school that’s certified with all the right requirements, one that teaches you everything you need to know to be a proper doctor. ABET is essentially that—for engineering.

Suzanne: Yeah, it sets the standards.

Mikayla: Yes, and high standards that are recognized around the world. That’s something to be proud of. If you have a degree from an ABET-accredited program, you should be very proud and hold your head high. You have something valuable—something that’s not only good, but also useful—and it’s going to serve you well throughout your entire career.

Amanda: Let’s continue with that same discussion. Why does ABET accreditation matter for students? And what if they don’t plan on getting their engineering training or professional engineering license—does it still matter? Suzanne, would you mind starting with this one?

Suzanne: I guess maybe I’m an example. I have a degree—I’m a proud graduate of North Carolina State University in civil engineering, which is certainly ABET-accredited. I also earned my Engineer in Training (EIT) certification, but I never went on to get my Professional Engineer (PE) license. I continued in the same shipbuilding career for 34 years and did very well in it, but I didn’t have to have the PE license—although it was certainly an option. But I couldn’t have done what I’ve done without that really strong foundation that came from earning a degree from an ABET-accredited program.

Amanda: Yeah, thank you for that perspective and for sharing that. Just to echo what you said—for students who might be looking into getting their engineering training or professional engineering license—we know that ABET also has implications there too.

So, the next question for both of you: What kinds of programs are accredited? Online, two-year, four-year—are there others? And how can someone find out whether a specific program at a college is accredited? Mikayla, would you mind starting with this one?

Mikayla: So, I believe yes, ABET accredits online programs, as well as two-year and four-year programs. The way to find out if a program is accredited at a specific university—ABET has an amazing online tool on their website. You can apply filters and search by institution names, states, even by specific programs, and it will let you know if a program at a particular school is accredited or not.

Suzanne: Yeah, I could just add to that. Most of the programs I’m familiar with are four-year degrees. However, ABET is also thinking ahead... ABET is also looking ahead and exploring things like credentialing. As you get further into your career, you continue to learn new things. A lot of professionals are earning additional credentials, and ABET is evaluating how they might accredit those, too. It's all about that quality assurance—making sure you're getting value for your investment if you sign up for a credentialing program. And from an employer’s perspective, if you’re hiring someone who has a credential, you want to be confident that it’s meaningful and worthwhile. ABET also accredits some master’s programs, so if you’re looking beyond an undergraduate degree, there are accredited options at the graduate level as well.

Mikayla: Yes, for sure—check out abet.org.

Amanda: Something I’m hearing from both of you is that we’re all lifelong learners, and that’s such a good mentality to embrace early on. So continuing our conversation on accreditation—does ABET accreditation matter more for certain fields than others? Suzanne, would you mind starting with this?

Suzanne: I kind of alluded to this earlier, but if you're building a ship that... When you’re designing something like a ship, you're not just thinking about the ship itself—you're also thinking about the people who will be serving on board. Every year, on the anniversary of the Thresher tragedy, which sank with all hands, I was reminded of the importance of what we were doing. We were designing ships where people’s lives were at stake. So, anything we could do to reduce that risk, to protect the people serving on board the ships we designed and built, was critically important. I’m not sure if accreditation matters more in some fields than others, but I do think that some fields are more aware of it, so they might publicize or promote it more. But I believe accreditation should be equally important across all fields. Engineers, after all, are globally recognized for their role in making the world better. And how can you make the world better without the right checks and balances to ensure you're learning the necessary skills to implement?

Mikayla: Well said. Yes. And you know, when you go to college, you’re spending a lot of money to get that degree, and you want to get the best value for your investment. Accreditation is just one more way to confirm that you're getting what you paid for.

Amanda: Alright, so how can students learn more about the benefits of ABET accreditation before they choose their college and program? Mikayla, could you start with this?

McKayla: I didn’t know about accreditation when I was choosing a program... Before I went to college, I knew I wanted to do engineering from high school, and I just happened to end up at an accredited institution. I think talking to people who are engineers is a great outlet, but I know a lot of people may not have that opportunity. ABET’s website is a great place to find all the information you need about institutions, what programs they offer, and which ones are accredited.

Suzanne: Yeah, I think that’s a great idea. ABET.org has a ton of valuable information, and I use it myself regularly.

McKayla: I do too.

Amanda: Our next question: Can you share some specific stories where ABET accreditation helped in terms of education quality and job prospects? Suzanne, can you start?

Suzanne: Sure! I’ve mentioned it before, but at my company, if you want to be hired as an engineer, it’s a requirement to have a degree from an ABET-accredited program. It’s a great-paying field, and if you want your degree to be recognized and respected globally, that ABET accreditation is really important. A lot of people want to work internationally, and I have engineer friends all over the world. Having that standard—knowing your degree is accredited—makes a huge difference. It’s a mark of quality that travels with you.

McKayla: Yes! I have friends working in so many fascinating fields, and that degree is a key part of their credentials when they go looking for jobs.

Suzanne: And it works both ways. Accreditation is especially important internationally—it helps international professionals who want to get jobs here, and ABET accredits programs around the world too.

McKayla: Right, so just like people from other countries can come and work in the U.S. because their school had an ABET-accredited program, students from the U.S. can also take their education abroad and have it recognized. It opens doors both ways.

Amanda: Yeah, well said.

Suzanne: And I’ll add that my engineering society—SNAME, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers—actually conducts the accreditation visits for all the naval architecture and marine engineering programs through ABET. These programs are global, and our program evaluators come from all over to ensure schools meet the quality standards. So, no matter where you earn your degree, if it has the ABET stamp, it means something. It’s recognized worldwide.

McKayla: We think it’s a great system.

Amanda: And I want to share something personal too. As a graduate student, I actually became interested in ABET as a topic for my research. I was curious—why weren’t more programs, especially at historically Black colleges, accredited? At first, I thought maybe ABET was part of the issue. But as I learned more and started working with the organization, I found out that ABET really does have strong systems in place to ensure students are learning the skills they need to succeed. That changed my whole perspective.

McKayla: That’s really important. I work with a couple of HBCUs and I’m proud to say they have ABET-accredited programs. Like we’ve said, that accreditation is a mark of quality—that’s what you want.

Amanda: Yes, and right now there are over 4,700 accredited programs at more than 930 institutions around the world. ABET truly is the gold standard. Thank you both for sharing your insights. To wrap up this part of our conversation: Suzanne and McKayla, you highlighted how important it is to prepare students to solve real-world problems...

Suzanne: …and to build amazing things. ABET ensures that programs are designed to help students succeed by bringing together people from academia, industry, and other sectors with shared goals.

Amanda: So if you’re dreaming of becoming an engineer, just know that ABET is working behind the scenes with colleges and universities to help prepare you for a global workforce.

Now, one final question: What advice would you give your younger self—middle school or high school age—knowing what you know now?

McKayla: Take every opportunity—even if it’s something you think you’re not interested in. Back in middle school, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. Then one day, a civil engineer came to speak at our career day, and my whole perspective changed.

I wasn’t thinking about all the details of college back then, but I knew I wanted to go. So I started paying attention to the people around me—who was in college, who had gone—and asking questions. They weren’t all engineers, but they had friends who were. And that helped because, in college, we all start out in the same STEM classes anyway.

Even though I didn’t end up in robotics or chemistry or airplanes, just doing those activities helped me figure out what I wanted to focus on.

Suzanne: That’s great advice. Just go explore and look around—there are so many opportunities out there. I remember when I was in middle school, I loved math and science and English, so it was a little confusing. I wanted to be an archaeologist—I loved dinosaurs! Then someone said, “Oh, you like counting, you’ll be a banker!” Okay, maybe?

But what changed my path was my 10th grade math teacher. She took me to a university weekend on engineering careers. We toured different engineering departments, and when I walked into the civil engineering building and saw the water lab, that was it. I was 15 and I never looked back.

So, get out and explore. Talk to people. Ask your parents, your teachers, your friends’ parents. A lot of folks are happy to show you what they do. If they build things, go see what they’re building. Visit a job site. Ask questions. You never know what will spark your interest.

And you know, I’m not an archaeologist or a banker—but I found something I love, and it stuck. That’s what matters.

Amanda: That’s such great advice. Any final words for our listeners today?

McKayla: Just that we need more women in engineering. I hope this conversation sparked some curiosity. Being good at math and science is part of it—but it’s not the only thing. Anyone can be an engineer.

Suzanne: Exactly. We need more people—period—in engineering. It’s fun, it’s fascinating, and engineers solve problems that make a difference. So go explore. Go check out abet.org. You might just find something that catches your eye.

Amanda: Thank you all so much. And to our listeners—please reach out if you have questions. We’re here to help.