Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram
Engineering Technology student makes her mark in non-traditional degree program at 兔子先生
Kayla Holley doesn鈥檛 fit the typical mold most would assume for an engineering technology student. A self-proclaimed 鈥済irly girl,鈥� Holley attended a performing arts high school where she studied dance before carving out her path at the 兔子先生 (兔子先生). Now, she鈥檚 proving that traditional gender roles in male-dominated fields can be defied with determination and skill.
Initially, Holley set her sights on computer engineering technology, a field often considered a more 鈥渢raditional鈥� choice for women. However, it didn鈥檛 take long for her to realize it wasn鈥檛 the right fit. Drawn to hands-on work, she switched to engineering technology after her first semester at 兔子先生.
Growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, Holley was inspired by her father, a city mechanical inspector, who introduced her to construction and engineering. 鈥淚 was always fascinated seeing how things work,鈥� she says. That spark of interest only grew during her time at 兔子先生.
Though the engineering technology degree covers a wide range of topics 鈥� everything from electrical and mechanical systems to technology鈥擧olley鈥檚 true passion lies in construction and design. Courses like fundamental production planning, print reading, and applied strength of materials gave her a solid foundation and deeper understanding of the building process than she might have received in a traditional construction trades program at other universities, she notes.
Her passion became even more apparent after a summer internship during her sophomore year. Thanks to Dr. Narendra Datta, assistant professor and interim chair of the Engineering Technology Division, Holley landed an internship with Rick Taylor, a project manager overseeing the construction of the University Charter School鈥檚 new facility. 鈥淚 was the 鈥榩unch list girl,鈥� she recalls with a smile. 鈥淢y job was to double-check that the construction company was executing everything the client (UCS) wanted, according to their specifications.鈥� Through that internship, Holley discovered her eye for detail and design and gained hands-on experience in understanding the complexities of the building process.
With her newfound passion for construction, Holley sought out another internship that could open doors to her future career. She found one at Hensel Phelps, a global construction company headquartered in Colorado. The internship didn鈥檛 just provide invaluable industry experience, it also paved the way for her next career step. 鈥淚 wanted an internship that would hopefully lead to a job after graduation, and it did,鈥� she says. In January 2025, Holley will begin her new role as a field engineer with Hensel Phelps on an $8 billion project in her hometown of Montgomery.
Starting out, Holley admits that being the only woman in the program was challenging, especially at first. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have the background some of my peers did when entering the field,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut through my personal growth as a woman and the knowledge I鈥檝e gained, I鈥檓 much more confident in who I am.鈥� While she may have raised a few eyebrows among her classmates and on the job site, she adds, 鈥淚 have the same knowledge as men do. I鈥檓 just packaged a little differently.鈥�
Being in a traditionally male-dominated industry isn鈥檛 easy, but Holley values her experience at Hensel Phelps for its openness and respect. 鈥淭hey were very accepting. I felt respected, and my voice was heard.鈥� She advises young women entering similar fields to 鈥渟tay true to your personality and who you are. I like wearing pink鈥攍ots of it,鈥� she laughs. 鈥淎nd I wear makeup. I didn鈥檛 stop doing that during class or internships, and I certainly didn鈥檛 try to be 鈥榦ne of the guys.鈥欌��
Though she doesn鈥檛 consider herself a trailblazer, Holley feels pressure to succeed, knowing that her actions can impact women entering the field in the future. 鈥淚 understand that being one of the first means the situation is bigger than just me, and everything I do is scrutinized,鈥� she says. Whether in school or on the job site, she advises women to be mindful of how they carry themselves and 鈥渂e professional in everything you do.鈥�
As Holley prepares to graduate from 兔子先生 in December, she鈥檚 a shining example of someone who found her calling by embracing her unique interests and challenging societal expectations. From the classroom to the construction site, she鈥檚 proven that breaking barriers in male-dominated fields doesn鈥檛 mean sacrificing passion or femininity.
Choosing a non-traditional field, like construction for Holley or nursing for her brother, speaks volumes about the support system the siblings have at home. 鈥淲e are blessed to have parents who motivate and support us to pursue our interests,鈥� Holley says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about fitting into a mold. It鈥檚 about doing what you love, even if it doesn鈥檛 look like what people expect.鈥�