JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – WTS Northeast Florida celebrated the official launch of its University of North Florida Student Chapter on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, expanding opportunities for students to connect with transportation professionals and helping build the next generation of transportation industry leaders in Northeast Florida.

The new chapter marks an important milestone for WTS Northeast Florida's commitment to workforce development and student engagement. Through networking events, mentorship, industry speakers, scholarships and professional development opportunities, the chapter will help students build meaningful connections with transportation leaders throughout Northeast Florida. The student chapter leadership includes Faculty Advisor Dr. Sando and President Tracey Ilunga. 

"I am honored to serve as the first President of the WTS UNF Student Chapter. I am most excited about the opportunity UNF students will have to connect with professionals in transportation and create a strong community of future transportation leaders. I hope this chapter provides students with invaluable networking, mentorship, and career development opportunities that bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace in order to strengthen the transportation industry." - Tracey Ilunga, President, WTS UNF Student Chapter  

Student chapters across the country have become valuable pipelines for attracting and developing future transportation professionals through mentorship, networking, leadership development and industry engagement opportunities. "The launch of the UNF Student Chapter represents an exciting new milestone for WTS Northeast Florida and the future of transportation in our region. This creates opportunities for UNF students to engage directly with industry professionals while developing the skills and relationships that will support their careers," said Madelene Skinner, APR, president of WTS Northeast Florida.

The UNF Student Chapter will serve as a bridge between the classroom and the transportation industry, helping students gain exposure to the wide range of careers that support the planning, design, construction and operation of transportation systems. "The best thing about WTS is the opportunity to build a network of like-minded individuals who are focused on doing good within their community through their work in transportation. With the launching of the UNF chapter, these students will get to take that network from college into their professional careers. At its core, WTS celebrates advancing women in transportation, these students will get a front row seat to not only what the looks like but also how they may want to show up as the move forward into the professional world, " shared Clare Fullerton, PE, WTS Northeast Florida student engagement chair. 

About WTS Northeast Florida

WTS Northeast Florida is dedicated to transforming transportation through the advancement of women and the development of future industry leaders. The chapter provides professional development, mentorship, networking and scholarship opportunities while supporting a diverse and sustainable transportation workforce. For more information, visit https://www.wtsinternational.org/chapters/northeast-florida.