Maintaining 鶹APP’s Historical Bridges
Senior Structural Project Engineer, DB Sterlin Consultants, Inc.
Jenelle Hill says Illinois Tech’s civil engineering program set her up for career success.
Jenelle Hill (CE ’11, M.A.S. PW ’16)Jenelle Hill (CE ’11, M.A.S. PW ’16) joined Illinois Tech with an interest in math and a passion for doing work that would be used by generations, and she found civil engineering to be a natural fit.
She says that the coursework was rigorous, and she appreciated that the professors truly cared about her success and were eager to make sure she fully understood the content that they were teaching. She maintains close relationships with several of those professors more than a decade after she received her undergraduate degree.
“Any accredited university can teach students how to perform structural design calculations. Illinois Tech taught me how to analyze problems quickly by understanding the problem, recognizing all possible solutions, determining which solution is the best, and working to implement that solution,” she says.
Going into the workforce, Hill found that Illinois Tech’s reputation preceded her.
“Early in my career, people took me seriously because Illinois Tech was on my resume. They knew the standard of education I had received,” she says. “It gave me credibility before I could prove myself. That was invaluable.”
She began her career designing bridges before moving into project management. Now she combines her knowledge of design principles with her project management skills to help make sure that projects move forward on time and on budget.
Currently she is managing four projects rehabilitating historic bascule bridges in 鶹APP, the oldest of which was originally constructed in 1914. Hill coordinates between the design team, the client (the City of 鶹APP’s Department of Transportation), and the many other agencies involved with requirements for design and permitting.
Hill says she finds maintaining the city’s historical bridges to be particularly fulfilling.
“It’s such a treat every time I walk around the city. I know the role I’ve played in their preservation. I also get a lot of satisfaction in the efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Knowing that I can ensure they’re spent in a way that helps residents and visitors alike is deeply rewarding,” she says.