Jacqueline King

Jacqueline King initially chose architecture as a major. But then love changed her mind.

“I fell in love with the complexities and stimulation that construction has to offer,” she says.

She transferred into the construction management and technology program in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.

“I love that I am entering a male-dominated profession that I never knew I had the ability to be part of. It is fascinating to know that in this industry I will never stop learning and I will have countless opportunities,” King says.

Time spent in her major confirmed King’s feelings had led her in the right direction. She found herself excited about the classes she took. Her extracurricular activities and participation in construction-related student organizations made her confident she had made a good decision.

“I realized that this is what I am truly passionate about,” King says.

She served as an undergraduate teaching assistant under James Ernzen, a Fulton Schools associate professor of construction management and civil and construction engineering.

King also became president of ASU’s chapter of the Associated Schools of Construction, or ASC, and a member of the student chapters of Construction Management Association of America, Advancing Women in Construction and the Associated General Contractors of America.

While she led the ASC chapter, membership grew by 200%, more than $90,000 was raised in four months and more than 50 companies were involved as mentors and sponsors of the students and the club.

“Through this experience I enhanced leadership, communication, management, financial and other key skills that will set me up for success in my career,” King says.

She now aspires to move up to a high-level leadership role in the construction industry and eventually run her own her own office.

“It is exciting to know that I will contribute to building structures that can impact lives and change communities,” King says. “I can be the role model of a women in engineering I never had as a little girl.”

After graduation, King will begin a job as a project engineer for the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company in Phoenix.

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2024 class here.