In Part One of her Spotlight, Maysen Fisher introduced us to her passion for civil engineering and the perspective she brings to her work. Now, in Part Two, she takes us inside her second summer at Dawood, where mentorship, technical growth, and real-world project work are helping shape her next steps.
What made you want to return to Dawood for a second year?
Returning to Dawood was an easy decision. The work I did during my first year felt meaningful, and the environment was both supportive and challenging in the best ways. I knew that coming back would give me more opportunities to grow, not just technically, but professionally.
The mentorship I received from the engineers here made a huge impact. They helped me build confidence in my skills and judgment, and they took the time to make sure I understood the “why” behind the work. I’m excited to keep building on that foundation this summer.
Who has had the biggest impact on your internship so far?
One person who’s had a big impact on me is Kyle Breiman. Early on, I was working on ADA ramp design and came across some complex field conditions that I wasn’t sure how to interpret against the standards. Instead of giving me a quick answer, Kyle walked me through the decision-making process.
He explained how to think through non-standard intersections, balance compliance with practical site conditions, and apply engineering judgment. Once, he even pulled up past project examples and street view imagery to show me how he’d handled a similar challenge. These moments stuck with me and helped me see that it wasn’t just about getting the task done, it was about learning to think like an engineer. His mentorship helped me grow more confident in my judgment and showed me how thoughtful engineering can serve the community.
What are your career goals, and how is this internship helping you reach them?
I plan to become a licensed professional engineer with a focus on transportation. I’m especially interested in designing multimodal infrastructure that helps people move through cities more safely, efficiently, and sustainably.
This internship has helped me connect classroom knowledge with real-world conditions. I’ve learned how technical standards, public needs, and field realities influence every decision. That perspective is shaping the kind of engineer I want to become—practical, thoughtful, and ready to make a lasting impact.