Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
Structural insight from the women of MP-Squared
A Q&A
Introduce a Girl to Engineering, (Girl Day) on February 26, 2026, gives us the opportunity to promote STEM—especially structural engineering—to girls of all ages. If you, or someone you know, are interested in becoming an engineer, we’d be happy to discuss our profession with you! In the meantime, enjoy some structural insights from our engineers.
Melissa Peyton, PE, Founder & Structural Engineer
What drew you to structural engineering?
I was always good at—and genuinely enjoyed—math and science. My freshman year of college, I declared a math major and then shifted to physics. At some point, it occurred to me that switching to engineering would be a wise move: I could still use my love of math and science and also graduate with a clear path to a job—without needing a PhD. I chose structural engineering because it felt the most tactile. I liked the idea that I could directly see the results of my work, as opposed to a more abstract discipline like electrical engineering.
What’s one cool thing about a building that most people never notice, but you see every time?
I always notice how a building is laterally braced. Often, the lateral system is hidden or subtle, but in many airports, the bracing is woven into the architectural features and intentionally showcased rather than concealed. Take a look next time you’re traveling—you’ll start to see it everywhere.
Melissa Weeks, PE, Structural Engineer
What drew you to structural engineering?
A love of Math, Art and computer-aided drafting software. And Legos 😊
My mom is also an engineer (Mechanical, with a Math Major), and she was always doing STEM-related projects and crafts with me and my sister.
Do you have any advice to girls interested in STEM?
Take as many engineering-related classes as you can. My high school had many “Project Lead the Way” classes, and that’s where I discovered my love of buildings.
What’s your favorite structure on Earth?
Petra—it’s amazing to me what they were capable of creating by hand.
Alissa Jenne, PE, Senior Structural Engineer
What drew you to structural engineering?
I was always interested in how things were put together, specifically with buildings. When I was younger, I would stare out the backseat window as we drove by construction sites, intrigued by what was going on there.
What’s one thing people misunderstand about structural engineering?
Most people assume architects design the entire building, when in actuality, the architect’s vision wouldn’t exist without the help of a structural engineer. I often tell people our job is to make sure the building stays standing.
What’s one cool thing about a building that most people never notice, but you see every time?
When I walk in a building, I always look up. I’m curious about the structure and how the building was framed. I often notice other people looking up to see what I am looking at 😊
Sarah Dombrowski, EIT, Structural Designer
What drew you to structural engineering?
When I was 13-years-old, I helped my dad and grandpa add two bedrooms and a bathroom to our basement. That was my first real introduction to construction/engineering. Then, in high school, I took some drafting and civil engineering classes and loved them.
What’s the first thing you remember building or taking apart as a kid?
One of the first things I remember building was when I was in elementary school and I helped build a K’nex Ferris Wheel that had a motor and pulleys and actually spun. I also built a lot of Lego sets.
Hannah Hoesly, EIT, Structural Designer
What drew you to structural engineering?
In 8th grade, we got to choose our electives, and there was one geared towards STEM. I was good at math and science and already had an idea that I wanted to do something in engineering, so I decided to take the class. The specific project that drew me to Structural Engineering was building a “bridge” out of popsicle sticks, glue and tape, and seeing how many textbooks it could hold. The bridge my group made was either 1st or 2nd strongest in the class and that was exciting. Later, in high school, I took “Project Lead the Way” courses that were offered, and those courses reinforced that I was in the area of study that was right for me.
What’s your favorite structure on Earth?
I am a bit of an architecture nerd as well as a structural engineer, so my favorite structure on earth is probably Notre-Dame. The level of detail in the architecture along with the advanced structural techniques that were used to construct it, considering it was built in the 11th and 13th centuries, is just amazing to me.
Thank you to the women of MP-Squared for sharing a glimpse into your passion for structural engineering.
If you’d like to learn more about our entire structural engineering team, visit our team page.