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WTS Iowa Member: Wasama A. Abdullah, Iowa State University

What is the favorite part of your job? What is a recent accomplishment that made you feel proud of yourself?

My favorite part of working on traffic safety is that I am in a position where I am able to provide real-time solutions to enhance people's lives by reducing traffic crashes and fatalities. Being able to make any small contribution to improving transportation safety in the community that we live in is a great responsibility that I hold towards my family and the people I love. I also enjoy being surrounded by intelligent people and great minds from different backgrounds. 

Why did you join WTS?

As a woman in transportation; a male-dominated field, my undergraduate and graduate experiences have benefitted from opportunities for women in science at both the department and university level, as well as supportive and unbiased mentors. I thus understand the value and the need for an equally oriented research environment that promotes inclusion and enables all students to access the tools they need to be successful in their field. I started as a member of the WTS Chicago chapter in 2018 and I received the Helene M. Overly Scholarship in 2019 in recognition of my outstanding commitment to the transportation field, my research excellence, high academic record, and involvement in the industry. More information on the scholarship can be found here.

I was very excited when WTS initiated the Iowa chapter last year and I did not hesitate to be involved with their activities and being an active member on their committees. Ever since, I have met the most amazing women professionals from different sectors, all aiming at providing an avenue for discussions about gender-related challenges in transportation, as well as reach out to the community to encourage more women into engineering. I am currently the Co-Chair of the events committee and I love what we do!

What was the best piece of advice you received when you started your college career? Do you think it would apply now as your job search for the next phase in your life? Why?

The best college advice I have ever received was from my father, who always encouraged me to venture outside of my comfort zone. I hold this advice with me while stretching my interests and exploring new horizons as I am graduating, and I am sure that this mentality will take me places that I never even imagined getting into and will help me reach my real potential.

What does a typical weekend (pre-COVID-19) look like for you?

A typical weekend for me is one that I spend with my small family and close friends. In my free time, I love to meditate through baking, particularly, recipes from the middle eastern cuisine. I believe that being able to bake, is one of the most calming and rewarding experiences, as it teaches me creativity and patience, but also gives me the chance to communicate with my cultural memories and emotions, and I always end up with a delicious treat. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

These days, if I am able to travel anywhere in the world, I would probably go home. I have seen enough of the world to know that seeing my family is more important than going anywhere else. I have found myself on the other side of the world once and to be able to see my family and friends would be more rewarding than any traveling experience I could have. A road trip across the states though is something that I will definitely do one day.