Juliana Johnson: Outstanding senior in civil engineering

Clubs and activities

Honors Program, CCEE student ambassador, Engineers Without Borders, worked as a communication consultant for the Academic Success Center

Valuable hands-on learning in class

Course projects were extremely valuable to me during my time at Iowa State. They allowed me to strengthen my technical skills by learning different civil engineering software and helped me become a better problem solver and critical thinker.

Valuable out-of-the-classroom experience

The internships I had were extremely influential in helping me decide what I wanted to do with my civil engineering degree. I worked as a traffic engineering intern for HDR and as a rail engineering intern for Arup. These positions gave me real-world experience and allowed me to learn from industry leaders.

Most influential mentor

My most influential mentor was Dr. Beth Hartmann. Her passion for helping students succeed both in and out of the classroom is incredibly inspiring, and I can always count on her to provide advice or encouragement.

Best memory/greatest accomplishment

My greatest accomplishment was developing and facilitating a workshop, called Communicate with Confidence, for my honors project. This workshop combined my interests in STEM outreach and communication to help women in STEM become stronger and more confident communicators.

Plans after graduation

This fall I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin to pursue my master’s degree in civil engineering with a transportation focus. I will be working as a graduate research assistant in a rail engineering lab.

Making my mark on the world

I want to be an engineer who listens to the needs of my community and develops innovative solutions to make transportation systems more accessible and equitable for all people.

Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer

The vast network of engineering alumni is very unique. During all of my internships, I have been able to connect with an Iowa State alum who works at the company. Even when I left the Midwest, I was still able to talk to and be mentored by someone who graduated from the College of Engineering. This is extremely special!

What I’d tell my younger self about Iowa State

I gained confidence in myself and my abilities to problem solve, overcome challenges, and share my ideas. I learned how to ask for help when I don’t understand something, and how to always be open to new opportunities. I also gained a strong support system of people who want me to succeed and are always willing to provide advice and encouragement.

Most inspiring location on campus

I feel inspired as a Cyclone Engineer in the capstone lab in Town Engineering. Working in this collaborative environment with my peers motivates me to become a better problem-solver and creative thinker.