When Mesa Community College international student and construction management major Anny Torres Gallego completes her Associate in Applied Science degree this spring, she joins a growing group of women who are choosing careers in the construction field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of females in the U.S. construction industry grew from 5.9 percent in 2003, to 7.7 percent in 2018, to 10.3 percent in 2019. The BLS predicts there will continue to be more female workers in this industry in the years ahead, diversifying the field.
Gallego, 32, of Mesa, said she has always been interested in construction and has a goal to earn a master’s in civil engineering. As a civil engineer, she would design, build and supervise the construction of roads, airports, tunnels, bridges and other public projects.
She said MCC was an excellent choice to begin her education.
“I came to the United States for a vacation,” said Gallego, who formerly lived in Columbia. “I wanted to learn English. A friend of mine recommended taking classes at MCC.”
She said it was the right decision for her. Gallego found college resources and the Construction Management Program Director Chevelle Frantz was extremely helpful.
“I will never forget the director of the program, she is an amazing professor with a lot of experience,” Gallego said. “I was able to learn so much from her.”
MCC’s program provided Gallego with skills in construction ethics, estimating and contracts. It also prepared her for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associates exam. Her degree prepares her for transfer to a bachelor’s program.
Gallego said she is pleased with her experience at MCC and excited to be part of increasing the number of females in the industry. She would recommend the career to anyone who likes to use creative problem-solving skills and enjoys using math and engineering concepts to build and repair things.
“I would tell others that MCC is a very good college with lots of programs to choose from, resulting in a very high-quality education,” she said.