DOT expands internship program to get more women working in transportation

I have to tell you about a most extraordinary young woman.

Chanel Johnson is a rising transportation star.  Even though she's only entering her sophomore year of college, she's already decided to major in math and mechanical engineering.  She's completed an internship in the Office of Road Design at the Georgia Department of Transportation.  And she's spending the summer here with us in Washington at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a safety defect engineer.

Chanel Johnson at the Women's Small Business Day at DOT Headquarters. 

You see, Chanel is part of a transportation pilot training program at Spelman College that DOT began last September.  It is designed to encourage young women to pursue careers in transportation by matching them with relevant internships in their areas.  And because of success stories like Chanel's, I was pleased to announce an expansion of this program at yesterday's Women's Small Business Day at DOT headquarters.

Even though women are an essential part of today's labor force, they're extremely underrepresented in the transportation industry.  This internship program is designed to change that.  We're expanding from one region of the country to ten, so that wherever a young woman is enrolled, from California to Maine, there's a DOT Small Business Transportation Research Center nearby.  These Centers will provide resources, technical assistance, and outreach to all 50 states and U.S. territories.  

(From left to right) Secretary LaHood, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Christina
Tchen, Chanel Johnson, DOT Deputy Chief of Staff Marlise Streitmatter, and OSDBU Director Brandon Neal.

This is just the latest in a series of initiatives DOT has underway to encourage women in transportation.  In May 2010, I signed a cooperative agreement with the Women's Transportation Seminar International to encourage young women to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  Yesterday's Women's Small Business Day was another step in the right direction.  This meeting enabled female entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs to speak with DOT's small business specialists and share best practices.  And last year, we were able to make over $30 million in awards to women-owned small businesses.  That's 12% of DOT's total contract awards.

DOT is committed to opening doors for women and allowing them to pursue their dreams - whether it's in an airport, an engineering or aerospace firm, a railroad, a transit agency, or even their own business. And I can't think of a better way to encourage accomplished students like Chanel Johnson to devote their talents to a career in transportation.

Comments

[Jordan]

I love to see government internship programs expanded, but I am always dubious about favoring certain genders/races (disclosure: I am a white male). I just sometimes feel like there is some sort of reverse discrimination at play (even though that is usually not the intent).

[Michael E. Bailey]

The program at Spelman College is one that should be a model for colleges across the country. More women in transportation would make the industry more representative of the people it serves as well as bring a fresh perspective to transportation issues. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[M.O.B.S.]

It's good that the government is finally taking steps like these to empower women, especially young women! Cheers to Chanel Johnson!

[ESQ by Movado]

Good to hear that government provides a variety of opportunities to promote and support women working in transportation. Through the Department of Transportation and other governmental agencies, there is funding for women's non-profit agencies that research transportation issues that provide the government with information on transportation impact studies.

[Lemore]

I think getting more women in the transportation industry is a wonderful idea. I would like to see more of this happening in other areas of the industry. I am a woman business owner and I always like to see women moving up in the business world.

[M.O.B.S.]

It’s great to see government internship programs being expanded! Providing these opportunities to our young women shows that we are moving towards equality in the work-place. Good job Chanel Johnson!

[truckers insurance]

Good for us women. I write trucking insurance in Southern California and out of my entire book of business I only have two female truck drivers. I would love to see more women coming into the transportation industry.

[Dwight McFarland]

What differance does it make WHO is in the transportation Industry. You NEVER DO ANYTHING to support the most Important part of the Industry. THE DRIVERS/OPERATORS. President Obama uses this new hire TO GRANDSTAND as if it will make a differance. IT WONT. Carriers will STILL ROB OPERATORS. The people who are SUPOSED TO HELP WILL STILL give THEIR OPINION and not the laws and regulations. They still wont know what the actual laws and regulations are or what they mean. They still will NEVER INVESTIGATE CLAIMS. They still will NEVER ANSWER THE PHONES or return calls you leave on their voice mail. So what's with all the fanfare. You people REGULATE THE HELL OUT OF THE DRIVERS/OPERATORS. But do nothing to help when they have problems. I think it safe to say that 99% of the people that work in the transportation industry have never been out of an office setting in their entire working lives, and get 100% of their image of DRIVERS AND OPERATORS from movies or fictional books. I'll say this and be done, If President Obama does not do something to help INTER-STATE DRIVER AND OPERATORS, I will do everything in my power to see he wont get Elected next Election. I will side with the Tea Party/GOP and help to push him out of office. And when he goes so will his Administration.