Alice Chen is a lifelong learner who doesn’t back down from new experiences. Her fearlessness unexpectedly led her to engineering and today, she’s a land use engineer with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
“I’m not afraid to try new things,” she said. “It’s always been my practice to learn new things.”
Chen was a science major throughout college, earning an A.S. degree in Science from Virginia Peninsula Community College in 2018. She followed up with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia and strictly applied to science-based jobs after college.
The surprising turn in Chen’s professional life happened when she received a call about a contractor’s position with the pharmaceutical company Merck in Elkton, Va. She took the life-changing opportunity. Just like that, Chen was a wastewater treatment engineer.
“I actually didn’t apply for the contractor job. They called me based on what I put on my resume. I was surprised they called me,” she explained. “I didn’t think I had a chance because I only had a science background. But, I said, ‘Why not give it a try?’”
Leaving her comfort zone was a smart decision. The experience from her first job gave Chen the confidence needed for her VDOT position.
She’s now part of major projects with VDOT including an Amazon facility in Louisa, Va.
“They are going to build a data center, so we are experiencing how to interact with them and how the permit processes work. We need to provide the resources they need, since they are investing in that area,” she explained. “It’s important because that will probably build job opportunities and build up the population there. I think that’s the most interesting part.”
While involvement in a large construction project is one facet of her work, the job has routine duties, particularly working with the permitting department.
“If the utility company wants to do something on our public roads, I need to review their plans and either give suggestions or process the permit. I also do a lot of site plans … seeing if they are trying to build businesses or when anything relates to public roads. I need to review the plans as well,” she said.
Her receptiveness to change was shaped by a major transition. In 2013, her family moved to the United States from her native Chiayi, Taiwan. Chen, who was 17 at that time, initially found it challenging.
“Because my English was really bad, it was super hard,” she said. “I still remember the first year. I was struggling a lot in all my classes because I couldn’t understand many sentences. I could only agree with people. That was it.”
Chen credits a dedicated ESL tutor at Grafton High School for helping improve her language skills and adjust to living in Yorktown, Va.
“The ESL tutor supported me a lot. I always considered her as like my mama in school,” she said, smiling at the notion.
With those experiences behind her, Chen remains focused on her goals. She’s studying business analytics as a part-time student at Georgia Tech toward a second master’s degree. The Charlottesville resident is also a licensed insurance agent.
“I have all the insurance licenses — property, casualty, life. I can sell any kind of insurance,” she noted, pointing out it’s one of her fallback plans if ever she lost her job.
Although humble about her achievements, Chen welcomed the chance to serve as the guest speaker for VPCC’s Science Club on March 4. She happily accepted the invitation from Prof. Pengfei Song of the STEM division.
In an online presentation to an audience of nearly 20 people, Chen shared why she chose community college and discussed her experiences transferring to a four-year school, including challenges and advantages. She also covered transitioning from college to the workforce, job searching and career development. Chen offered insights into her field, touching on entry-level salaries and long-term career goals.
Offering sound advice, she cited fostering and maintaining good relationships as necessary for success. She also emphasized every mistake is a learning opportunity.
“I would say networking is important. I kept good relationships with my professors and peers. They were always there to support me,” she said, mentioning Song as a valued mentor. “Don’t be afraid to screw up. I still mess up a lot … But the most important thing is to ask yourself: ‘What can I do next? How can I solve the problem?’”
Busy schedule aside, Chen loves hiking and learning new languages in her free time. She taught herself American Sign Language and studied Japanese.
“I learned sign language through YouTube. I’ve only used it a couple of times, but it was good enough. I used it once when I was working as server … People were really surprised,” she said, noting the second time was during an online meeting for a seminar.
Chen learned to scuba dive as a youth. As an advanced scuba diver, she has explored the depths of Taiwan’s waters and loves the sense of adventure it brings.
Supported by her family, especially her mother, whom she calls “my biggest source of encouragement,” Chen is moving full speed ahead into the future.
“My plan is to get my EIT (engineering in training) license by the end of the year. After I get my EIT, I need to work under a PE (professional engineer) for another four years to get my PE license,” she enthused.
“But the other side, I wasn’t sure if this is what I wanted to do the rest of my life because I still have the time to figure it out. So, that’s why I applied to another master’s degree program,” she concluded.