Shawna Von Stockhausen
Engineer
I am Shawna Von Stockhausen and I’m an engineer in Hatch Mott MacDonald’s Pleasanton, California, office, where I specialize in tunnel projects. I began my career at Hatch Mott MacDonald as a college intern and was pleased that the firm hired me upon my graduation.
At Hatch Mott MacDonald, I work on tunnel projects at all stages, from planning and design through to construction. The tunnels I design are used for any number of purposes, from drinking water conveyance and transportation to flood control. Many of the tunnel projects I’m a part of directly influence the quality of life of the community in which they’re constructed, particularly in urban areas where the quality of life depends heavily on the community’s functional infrastructure. It’s a point of pride to be able to work on projects that deliver public benefits and improve communities.
The team that I work with at Hatch Mott MacDonald can vary greatly from project to project, and often includes contractors and members of our clients’ staff. One of the best things about working on these varying teams is that I have the opportunity to work with a variety of engineers with different backgrounds and levels of experience. Everyone is very approachable and willing to lend a hand or give advice to less experienced team members, fostering a cooperative learning environment. In addition, since no two tunnel projects are exactly alike, each new project offers new challenges, keeping the job very interesting.
Engineering is a part of who I am, and I am passionate about mentoring young engineers to help them grow into their full potential. I am a founding member of the local American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Younger Member Forum (YMF). ASCE YMF focuses on ASCE members under the age of 35 and has a particular emphasis on K-12 outreach. Each year, I lead a Tunnels and Earthquakes activity, supported by YMF, with a local fourth-grade class in which students learn basics about tunnel engineering and how we approach tunnel designs in seismically active areas. In addition, I am also a mentor to a robotics team at a local high school. My work with the robotics team is very meaningful to me as I was involved in the robotics team as a student, and my participation on the team was an important element in my decision to pursue engineering as a career.
At Hatch Mott MacDonald, I work on tunnel projects at all stages, from planning and design through to construction. The tunnels I design are used for any number of purposes, from drinking water conveyance and transportation to flood control. Many of the tunnel projects I’m a part of directly influence the quality of life of the community in which they’re constructed, particularly in urban areas where the quality of life depends heavily on the community’s functional infrastructure. It’s a point of pride to be able to work on projects that deliver public benefits and improve communities.
The team that I work with at Hatch Mott MacDonald can vary greatly from project to project, and often includes contractors and members of our clients’ staff. One of the best things about working on these varying teams is that I have the opportunity to work with a variety of engineers with different backgrounds and levels of experience. Everyone is very approachable and willing to lend a hand or give advice to less experienced team members, fostering a cooperative learning environment. In addition, since no two tunnel projects are exactly alike, each new project offers new challenges, keeping the job very interesting.
Engineering is a part of who I am, and I am passionate about mentoring young engineers to help them grow into their full potential. I am a founding member of the local American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Younger Member Forum (YMF). ASCE YMF focuses on ASCE members under the age of 35 and has a particular emphasis on K-12 outreach. Each year, I lead a Tunnels and Earthquakes activity, supported by YMF, with a local fourth-grade class in which students learn basics about tunnel engineering and how we approach tunnel designs in seismically active areas. In addition, I am also a mentor to a robotics team at a local high school. My work with the robotics team is very meaningful to me as I was involved in the robotics team as a student, and my participation on the team was an important element in my decision to pursue engineering as a career.