UCLA Civil Engineering Student Aims to Pave the Way for Representation and Sustainable Infrastructure

In a crowded lecture hall at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, Khushi Patel takes meticulous notes, trying to balance her rigorous civil and environmental engineering coursework with leadership roles that extend far beyond the classroom. 

A third-year student, Patel is the external director for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at UCLA’s Evening with Industry — one of the largest student-run industry networking events that attract hundreds of students and about 40 companies annually. And as if that’s not enough to keep her busy, Patel said she is also hoping to add an entrepreneurship minor because she aspires to have a career at the intersection of engineering and business. 

Patel, a daughter and granddaughter of engineers, was interested in math and science in grade school. She was especially inspired by her mother who is a civil engineer. Her mother’s career shows her what it means to be a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field. 

“Watching her, I never felt that being a woman was a limitation to my academic and career aspirations,” Patel said. “She’s been my greatest role model, teaching me how valuable education is in being self-sufficient as a woman, and that with hard work and perseverance, I can do anything I set my mind to.” 

Like her mother, Patel is also drawn to civil engineering, especially because of its breadth of applications for positive change — from climate-resilient housing to sustainable transportation and community spaces. A Southern California native from Corona in Riverside County, Patel also has witnessed how civil engineering impacts everything from water management to earthquake-resistant construction. 

“My involvement with SWE has transformed my perspective on diversity in engineering,” said Khushi Patel. “I’ve experienced the impact of representation and community, and I’m passionate about creating those same opportunities for others.”

She also recognized early on that the critical thinking and analytical skills central to engineering overlapped significantly with those needed in business and entrepreneurship. While still in high school, Patel won first place in the Future Business Leaders of America National Conference, an achievement that validated her business skill. At the same time, she excelled in advanced math and physics courses, building a solid foundation for an academic career in engineering.

When it came time to apply for college, Patel knew she wanted to major in civil engineering, with a possible minor in entrepreneurship. She also knew she wanted to attend UCLA, where her older sister, Janaki, got her bachelor’s degree. 

“Being able to follow in my sister’s footsteps at UCLA was meaningful to me,” Patel said. “Seeing her thrive in the biophysics program gave me confidence that I could succeed in a rigorous STEM environment.”

At UCLA, Patel found support for mentorship and community in SWE her freshman year, which helped ease her transition to college. Over time, she learned to put her passion for engineering and business to use, leading SWE at UCLA’s largest annual event that brings together recruiters from top companies to create internship and job opportunities for UCLA Samueli students. In the fall, Patel will continue her leadership at SWE, serving as external vice president, managing sponsorships and corporate partnerships.

“My involvement with SWE has transformed my perspective on diversity in engineering,” Patel said. “I’ve experienced the impact of representation and community, and I’m passionate about creating those same opportunities for others.”

Patel is also a member of Consult Your Community at UCLA, a student-led consulting group that provides pro bono services to small businesses, particularly those owned by women and minorities. The experience has helped strengthen her abilities in analyzing markets, developing expansion strategies and assessing social impact — skills that seamlessly complement her engineering knowledge.

“The problem-solving mindset you develop in engineering is incredibly transferable,” Patel said. “Whether it’s designing infrastructure or evaluating business models, the core challenge is the same: finding creative, efficient and sustainable solutions.”

Beyond California, Patel has devoted her time empowering underserved communities in developing countries through her involvement in Engineers Without Borders at UCLA. Working on infrastructure projects in Nepal and Nicaragua, she saw firsthand how engineering could improve access to clean water, health care and education.

“These projects made my academic struggles feel purposeful,” Patel said. “It’s one thing to learn about global disparities in a classroom. It’s another to see them up close and know you have the tools to make a difference.”

SWE@UCLA members Florence Zhao (left), Sarah Darzacq (middle) and Khushi Patel (right) pictured on February 22 at the annual “Hi Engineer!” outreach event held on campus to encourage children and teens to explore STEM

This past summer, Patel interned at Skanska, a construction and development company where she was responsible for working with project engineers on field support for a big civil infrastructure project, assisting with cost estimation updates and coordinating between subcontractors. The experience helped her land an internship at Jacobs Engineering Group next summer for construction management in commercial development.

Her time at Skanska also taught her that successful construction management requires more than just technical knowledge; it demands strong negotiation skills, financial literacy and the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders. 

Patel’s coursework, particularly a transportation sustainability course taught by civil and environmental engineering assistant professor Regan Patterson, has further reinforced this connection, integrating economic principles with engineering solutions.

Looking ahead, Patel says she envisions a career that blends engineering, entrepreneurship and social impact. She looks forward to launching business ventures that prioritize sustainability, potentially in real estate development, investment and social entrepreneurship. One of her long-term goals is to establish a nonprofit dedicated to improving infrastructure and educational access for girls in developing countries.

“Infrastructure isn’t just about buildings and roads,” she said. “It’s about shaping communities, creating opportunities and building a future where everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive.”

For Patel, the journey is about more than gaining technical expertise. It’s about reimagining what engineering can be, and ensuring that its impact extends far beyond structural blueprints and business models.