Jenny Baez (Gonzalez), PE

I remember it was Earth Day 1991. We went to showcase recycling, and that's when I fell in love. I always said, 'I want to go there someday.' That's how it all started. I went back to the Dominican Republic and earned my bachelor's in civil engineering. When I graduated, I came back and decided to apply. My professors were exceptional. I have no complaints about the professors. They were very knowledgeable in their areas. I had a very good experience with every one of them. Attending the City College of New York to earn my master's developed a specialized knowledge of my field, which is transportation. I was also able to expand my network with other students and professionals in the field, which I still keep in contact with. I was able to advance my career. I became more marketable, and I also earned one year's credit towards my professional engineering license, which is a plus. It was challenging to go to CCNY, but I accepted the challenge. It was a rewarding one because I was able to accomplish my goal, which was to get a degree from CCNY. After I graduated, I advanced my career. Today, I am a highway design supervisor for the New York State Department of Transportation. I oversee signal design and traffic sign design projects in New York’s Hudson Valley region.