Profiles_COTC_March 2020

As a creative introvert, Juliette Pierce never imagined herself as an engineer. But as a College Credit Plus (CCP) student in Central Ohio Technical College’s (COTC) architectural engineering technology program, she has overcome several challenges to redefine the possibilities for her future. Pierce assumed that she was destined for a liberal arts college majoring in art or English or music because she thought she wasn’t cut out for fields like engineering because of the emphasis on math, a subject she hadn’t exactly taken to. After shadowing professionals in various roles at the New Albany engineering firm EASi Engineering, Pierce decided to defy her ideas of her capabilities and follow her newfound interest in the field. For her senior year at Watkins Memorial High School, she enrolled in COTC’s architectural engineering technology program through the CCP partnership. As the end of that year draws near, Pierce has realized that architectural engineering is truly the right career for her. “I really like the creative aspect of architectural engineering, being able to problem solve and the logical aspect of it. It really combines two things that I love: creativity and logic.” She has had challenging classes that have required her to seek out extra time with her COTC instructors such as Whit Tussing, professor of architectural engineering technology, who Pierce said provided the individual attention she needed to understand complex concepts that she anticipated might be obstacles. Not only have classes tested her, but also being in an unfamiliar, freer environment required her to learn how to manage her time and work collaboratively in a fast-paced setting. Both have been trials for the naturally introverted high school senior. “Putting myself in something and somewhere I’m not used to and working through that has been a challenge. So, while getting a degree is one reason why I am doing this, it is also about challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone and grow as a person,” said Pierce. Her favorite class so far has been a construction materials class that teaches students why certain materials are used for certain types or parts of buildings. Pierce described how the class taught her, starting with the foundation and working on each level up to the roof, how to calculate which materials will make for a structurally sound building. “At first I felt like I was really underqualified to be in the class, but I worked hard and asked for extra help when I needed it. I really learned a lot that I believe I’ll be able to use in my career.” G Members of the community are invited to participate in One Book, One Community, a free community book club hosted by The Ohio State University at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) in partnership with the public library systems of Licking County, the Licking County Foundation, the Licking County Health Department, United Way of Licking County and Denison University. Participants will read What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance and Hope in an American City by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, and then meet for a discussion and book signing with the author to kick off National Library Week on Monday, April 13, 6-8 p.m. in the Ohio State Newark/ COTC John Gilbert Reese Center, 1209 University Drive, Newark. What the Eyes Don’t See is the inspiring story of how Dr. Hanna-Attisha, alongside a team of researchers, parents, friends and community leaders, discovered that the children of Flint, Michigan, were being exposed to lead in their tap water — and then battled her own government and a brutal backlash to expose that truth to the world. Paced like a scientific thriller, the book reveals how misguided austerity policies, broken democracy and callous bureaucratic indifference placed an entire city at risk. And at the center of the story is Dr. Hanna-Attisha herself — an immigrant, doctor, scientist and mother whose family’s activist roots inspired her pursuit of justice. It is a riveting account of a shameful disaster that became a tale of hope, the story of a city on the ropes that came together to fight for justice, self- determination and the right to build a better world for their — and all of our — children. What the Eyes Don’t See was chosen as one of The New York Times Book Review’s ‘100 Notable Books of 2018.’ Complimentary copies of the book are available to the first 150 registrants. Books may be picked up at the John L. and Christine Warner Library and in the One Book: One Community Meet the physician who helped discover the Flint, Michigan, water crisis: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha Not Just About the Degree March 2020 CENTRAL OHIOTECHNICAL COLLEGE Continued on page 2 Continued on page 3