From Sociology to Transportation Leadership: Looking Back on Three Years with USC ITE

Our LA28 Pedestrian Modeling Project earned another first place at the Riverside San Bernardino ITE Student Presentations on May 7, shortly after earning first place at the SoCal ITE/OCTEC Student Presentations on April 30. This marks the end of a series of presentations on the topic, but hopefully this work will continue to serve as a useful framework for the LA28 organization or other future transportation management challenges.

This also marks the end of my third year as a project manager with ITE, and I can’t help but think about the people who brought me up to speed on these projects. I was first asked to be a co-leader with Andrew Keefer as a part of the 2024 E line Speed Improvement Project. We had a short timeline and a lot of dedicated work for two months, but we made it work. 

What sticks out most about USC ITE is how welcoming it is to anyone who is interested and willing to put in the work. I joined as a sociology major, a little intimidated by the heavy engineering presence but interested in mobility, nonetheless. What I’ve learned as I’ve gone through my years within USC ITE and worked in the transportation sector is that the work that needs to be done has a need for creativity, structure, and attention to detail. I would tell anyone interested in joining the chapter that you will find your place here, even if you must carve it out for yourself. Transportation at its core is a solution to a very human need for movement. Taking part in these projects gives you a better understanding of how professionals support this mission every day in the places we live.

I’m thrilled to leave USC ITE in the capable hands of Mila Mattson, the team’s research lead and the chapter’s new president. I’m also extremely excited to see Myron Murmanov, Rui Zhou, and Xin Du take on the duties of being project managers next year. Of course, none of this would be possible without the thoughtful guidance and inspiration of Professor Eric Shen. USC ITE is a very capable ecosystem supported by the hard work of a dedicated executive board and professional mentors. 

As I look forward to joining the active Trojan alumni network, I am confident that USC ITE will continue investing in each incoming class and supporting creativity wherever it appears. That culture is what keeps USC ITE thriving. Fight On!