Board Member Spotlight December 2022/January 2023

As part of our new Board Member Appreciation Program, we are showcasing a board member in our monthly Board Member Spotlight. Our board member spotlight recognizes board members of outstanding contributions to the profession and our local communities. For any questions regarding the program please contact the Past President PastPresident@ymf-oc.org.

For the December/January Spotlight, we would like to introduce...

JOCELYN DEL ANGEL, EIT

We asked her to state her name, company, and position(s) in ASCE:      

We also asked her a few questions about the following:

PERSONAL LIFE

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Huntington Park.

What made you want to become an engineer?

Honestly, I never imagined becoming an Engineer. I enjoyed mathematics in college, so I knew I wanted to do something with Math. Then, I took Statics as my first engineering course and fell in love with Civil Engineering. After doing my research, I came across Structural Engineering, and I instantly knew this was the career path I wanted to pursue.

Favorite hobbies, sports, and interests outside of engineering?

My favorite hobbies outside of engineering include hiking and checking out different breweries with friends.

Finish this sentence: On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me...

... on Ocean Blvd running with my Husky or eating a breakfast burrito from Don Rubens Tacos in Hawaiian Gardens.

What college(s) did you attend? Can you list your degrees, any honors, and involvement in engineering organizations during school?

My educational journey began at Long Beach City College. Then, I was fortunate to get accepted at Long Beach State. I became part of ASCE Student Chapter in my senior year as PSWC Co-conference chair. In the spring, I’ll be starting my Masters Program in Structural Engineering also at CSULB.

WORK & PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Describe your responsibilities and some significant projects.

I work at Los Angeles County Building and Safety Department. A few of my responsibilities include plan-checking residential and commercial building plans. Before working here, I worked for Psomas in Land Development. There I worked on many cool projects. One that stands out is Prado Helitack Base. I helped with the design of wet utilities and grading utilizing Civil 3D.

What is your favorite part about being a Civil Engineer?

My favorite part of being a Civil Engineer is helping build my communities. I assist homeowners in designing their homes with prescriptive methods and obtaining their permits. The smile on their face after completing their plans is rewarding.

What skills do you find most valuable to focus on in your career?

The skills I find most valuable are my social skills. I am a very chill person and easy going so I easily get along with people.

What drew you to your specific career path? If you could start your career differently, what would you do differently?

What drew me into structural engineering is all the math that is involved. I enjoy to problem solve and break my head with trying to find different solutions.

ASCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

How/Why did you get involved? Why did you choose to stay involved?

I became involved with ASCE in my senior year. I enjoy meeting new people and socializing, so ASCE was the perfect place! ASCE has also opened many doors for me through networking.

If you have one piece of advice to give to young professionals what would it be?

If I had one advice for a younger engineer, it would be to get involved with clubs and organizations as soon as possible. It helps to know people and meet people with similar interests. In addition, you meet people who encourage you to be your best and to continue thriving in your career path. You get to build lifetime friendships with really cool people.

Lastly, what would be your personal motto?

"Everyone has their own timeline. Just do it."

If you missed the last (October/November 2022) Board Member Spotlight, Jess Gascon, you can click here to read his article.

To view the archive of all past Member Spotlights, click here.