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Shaneka Odom

operations engineer/major projects engineer at the Federal Highway Administration

Shaneka Odom says that her mother provided the soundtrack to her life 鈥� one that fostered a curiosity to learn. She says that if it wasn鈥檛 for her inspiration and support, she wouldn鈥檛 be an engineer today.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Odom accepted her role with the Federal Highway Administration four years ago where she works collaboratively with ODOT Region 1 leadership and departments and ODOT鈥檚 Office of Urban Mobility to work on complex projects such as Tolling, I-205: Abernethy Bridge, the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project and more. Odom has worked in every aspect of traffic engineering and before moving to Oregon, worked in a leadership role for the Maryland State Highway Administration.

During her time in Maryland, she served as a mentor with the Boys and Girls Club and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to rebuild homes in her childhood neighborhood. In Oregon, Odom serves as the vice president of the National Society of Black Engineers and is a board member and volunteer for Building Blocks to Success. She also enjoys volunteering with other Black-led organizations that give back to underprivileged families.

Looking ahead, there鈥檚 nothing holding Odom back from creating a better world for those around her.

鈥淏eing a Woman of Vision means being the change you want to see,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 learned long ago that it鈥檚 important to visualize the future that you want to see. Then the next step is to execute. I have huge plans that will provide much-needed resources and opportunities to children who have been forgotten or dismissed. I am a product of those communities and I imagine how much easier it would have been if I had the same resources, opportunity, and access that my counterparts had while in grade school. I am proud of where I am and how far I have come and it鈥檚 all due to having a personal vision for myself.鈥�