51Ç鱨վ

by Cecilia Ramirez

Abbie Dean graduated from the Batten College of Engineering and Technology (BCET) with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil and environmental engineering and a minor in engineering management. While interning at Kimley-Horn in Virginia Beach, Va., Dean was offered a full-time job where she is responsible for signal timing optimization, information traffic fiber audits and multimodal lane management.

A Delaware native, Dean graduated high school from Padua Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school in Wilmington, Del. In middle school, Dean knew she liked science and math subjects. She excelled in these subjects with ease and confidence. She considered becoming a veterinarian, but that course changed towards high school when her parents introduced her to engineering. Both her mother and father worked in the transportation field. They understood that exposing her to various professions and industries would broaden her horizon to explore her potential.

In preparation for college, Dean toured several colleges. When she visited 51Ç鱨վ it was love at first sight. She and her parents met Bonita Anthony, an academic advisor who at that time was part of the staff coordinating the college visits. Anthony immediately became a great resource for them, providing an overview of the engineering program.

Dean was impressed with how personable Anthony was.

"I felt that I mattered and that Ms. Anthony was interested in me as an individual and as a student," said Dean.

"I had been to several colleges and universities and it was important for me to see diversity in engineering. Being a female in a field that is mostly men, it was nice to see the possibility of me thriving in that environment."

Anthony is still a mentor for Dean today. "Ms. Anthony has always been there for me to encourage me during challenging times. She frequently reminded me that I have come too far not to succeed," she said.

Rafael Landaeta, associate dean for undergraduate programs, also became a mentor for Dean which made her feel like she was part of the BCET family. "Dr. Landaeta's support for my educational goals was inspiring," she said.

One of the most memorable experiences she had was the study abroad opportunity in Germany where students visited German companies and witnessed engineering technology from a global perspective.

Being an engineering student at 51Ç鱨վ has enabled Dean to understand her strengths and weaknesses.

"The programs teach us to navigate difficult situations and provided us the tools to equip us in tackling some of the challenges that face us as engineers," she said.

Dean served as president of the BCET Student Ambassadors where she actively coordinated dozens of events for outreach and recruitment. She was also a member of the 51Ç鱨վ American Society of Civil Engineers, National Council of Negro Women STEM (chair), Engineering Early Advantage Program, and Engineering Living and Learning Community (resident assistant).

Dean's other internship experiences include traffic engineering intern at Delaware Department of Transportation in Dover where she developed curve safety evaluations and constructed speed studies and crash analysis. She also interned at Busch Manufacturing LLC in Virginia Beach as the leader for the vision system inspection project and design.