They Don’t Teach This in Engineering School

Описание: Welcome back to The 21st Century Engineer Podcast, hosted by Dr. Dennis D. Truax, Past President of ASCE and champion of servant leadership in civil infrastructure.

In this episode, Dr. Truax speaks with Alex Steelman, PE — recognized by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) as a 2025 Emerging Leader — about her journey as a young professional in civil engineering.

They discuss the challenges of early career development, the power of mentorship, the value of continuing education, and how civil engineers shape the very foundations of our communities.

🔍 In this episode:

Alex’s path from aerospace to civil engineering

Learning from her mother, a structural engineer

Why mentoring matters — and how good mentors lead by example

Overcoming early-career uncertainty and finding your footing

The importance of graduate education in professional growth

Ethics, licensure, and public trust in engineering

The value of professional societies like NSPE and ASCE

Becoming an Emerging Leader and the future of the profession

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Dr. Dennis Truax on servant leadership and change agents
02:00 – Meet Alex Steelman, PE — NSPE Emerging Leader
04:15 – Growing up in an engineering family
07:10 – From aerospace to civil: finding purpose in visible impact
10:45 – Early mentoring lessons from her mother and mentors
13:30 – The power of ethical leadership in engineering
16:20 – Why Alex pursued a master’s degree in civil engineering
20:00 – The importance of continuous learning in professional practice
23:45 – Getting licensed in multiple states — and why it matters
27:10 – Licensure, ethics, and protecting public trust
31:20 – Facing early-career doubt and “growing pains”
36:00 – How smaller firms foster learning and confidence
40:20 – Mentoring vs. supervision — nurturing people, not projects
43:30 – Serving the community through practical, budget-conscious design
46:00 – Why professional organizations matter (NSPE, ASCE, FES)
49:20 – The Emerging Leaders program and personal growth
52:15 – Advice to young engineers and closing thoughts
54:00 – Outro: Dr. Truax’s reflections on mentorship and leadership