Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumna Jerilyn Hassard has received the Women’s Transportation Seminar’s (WTS) 2019 Innovative Transportation Award. The award was presented by the WTS St. Louis Chapter to recognize Hassard’s work as project manager on the Martin Luther King (MLK) Bridge Approach Structure Replacement Project.
Hassard completed a bachelor’s in civil engineering from the SIUE School of Engineering in 1997. Currently, she is a senior associate at Modjeski and Masters, Inc. (MM) and the MidAmerica assistant regional manager. As a product manager, Hassard oversees the analysis, design, inspection and rehabilitation of various transportation structures.
Throughout the project, she led and coordinated a team that provided preliminary design, final design and construction engineering services for the replacement of the original approach structure of the MLK Bridge over IL Route 3. Additionally, the team completed repairs to six other structures in the approach complex.
“I was extremely surprised and honored to receive this award,” Hassard said. “When you work on a project for multiple years, you tend to become attached to the project, team and client. At the same time, we tend to forget how unique or innovative each project is because this is just what we do.”
“I was lucky enough to be the project manager of a great team for a challenging project,” added Hassard. “I would not have received this award without all of the hard work of my project team members.”
The award was designed to recognize innovative transportation projects designed and led by women in the industry.
“At one of the coordination meetings for this project, it just so happened that all participants were women,” noted Hassard. “This does not happen often in our industry. However, I have met and had the privilege of working with many talented female engineers from various clients, other consultants and internal to MM.”
While reflecting on her time at SIUE, she claimed that the University provided the right learning environment to allow her to achieve her goals.
“SIUE gave me the knowledge and experience I needed to start my career and grow into the professional that I am today,” Hassard said. “It also gave me the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships with many of my classmates who also work in the engineering industry.”
“Since graduation, I have worked for MM for over 20 years, and they have given me the opportunity to work on challenging projects with a wonderful group of professionals both locally and nationally,” Hassard said. “I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities SIUE and MM have made possible for myself and my family.”
Photo: SIUE alumna Jerilyn Hassard, senior associate at Modjeski and Masters, Inc.