Joseph C. Reichenberger
Civil Engineering, 1964
Full-time, Tenured Professor
Loyola Marymount University
Contact Joseph C. Reichenberger
at
jreichenberger@lmu.edu
Since your graduation from MU, what has been your career path?
I took a job out of Loyola Marymount University (LMU) along with 2 other civil engineering graduates from the class of '64 to work for the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (now consolidated to the Los Angeles County Public Works Department). We were recruited by the county during our senior year. I worked for the county for 3 years designing flood control and drainage systems. I left and then worked 13 years for Daniel Mann Johnson and Mendenhall, a large architectural/engineering firm in downtown Los Angeles. I worked on a wide variety of civil engineering projects from LAX runway expansion, to wastewater treatment plants, to suburban subdivisions. I traveled overseas to the Middle East, Guatemala and other places with them. I left to join Engineering-Science which was eventually purchased by Parsons Corporation. While at Engineering-Science I designed a wide variety of water and wastewater treatment plants. I eventually became Vice President and Western Regional manager. I traveled to mainland China, Malaysia, and the Philippines on projects for them. While I was working full time I took on part-time teaching in civil engineering at USC, California State University, Los Angeles, and LMU. In 1993, I took a full time teaching position in the Civil engineering Department at LMU. I am now a full-time, tenured Professor. I still perform civil engineering consulting work.
Describe your typical workday.
Typically during the school year, I arrive on campus early, usually 8 am. I teach 3 classes each semester -- typically only Tues and Thurs. Monday and Wednesday I have "free" to do whatever -- usually helping students, grading papers etc. I can work on my consulting projects as time permits. Wednesdays I am off campus and do consulting on a wide variety of projects. During the summer and breaks, I do consulting.
What is the best or most exciting part of your profession?
The variety of work and the career path opportunities are the best part of my work because you are not necessarily "locked in." Civil engineering degree would allow someone to do design work, manage others doing construction or design work, in the field doing construction, teaching in the university system (or high school if that interested you) or you can get your MBA or go into law school. Construction, patent, and environmental law specialties are open to civil engineering graduates. There have also been some civil engineering graduates from LMU who have gone into medical school. We have an Air Force ROTC program at LMU and a number of our civil engineering students are in ROTC. They can make a career out of being a base civil engineer, then retire while still young and go to work for a consulting engineering firm. It is also a great career for women.
What advice would you provide for a job seeker in your field?
At the present time, and it's been this way for the last decade, jobs are very easy to find. Civil engineers are in demand. Civil engineering has generally always been pretty stable. The demand has always been there. The demand is much stronger when the housing market is strong as it has been for the last decade.
You need to get your degree and then, if possible, a master's degree. To practice civil engineering and call yourself a civil engineer, you need to be licensed by the state. This involves passing two exams. One is taken while in school; the second is the professional engineering exam which is taken several years out of school. There is an experience requirement.
What are essential skills one must posses for success in your field?
Communication (written and oral) skills are essential to the civil engineer. Civil engineers write a lot of reports and make a lot of public presentations to city councils, boards and the public on our projects.
What can a current Marquette student do to effectively prepare for a career in your field?
Study hard, even those engineering subjects that don't interest you now. You will likely need them later -- particularly if you want to pass the licensing exam which is very broad. Work on your writing and speaking skills. I remember as an undergraduate at Marquette, I was going to be a structural engineer. As it turned out I did not do much structural engineering when I started to work and wound up doing water and wastewater work. Fortunately I had taken a number of courses in this area while at Marquette. I currently teach the geotechnical engineering class at LMU so I use the material l learned in this area now.
Get involved in organizations and volunteer to be a leader. I worked for the Wisconsin State Highway department the summers before my Junior and Senior years. This was great experience and the money is good. It is important to get experience in the field during the time spent at the undergraduate level. If you can afford it, go on to graduate school right away. If you have the opportunity to obtain a PhD, do it. It opens up many more career paths.
How does one find a summer job or internship in your field, and are there any other opportunities to gain experience before graduation?
Again, at the present time summer paid internships are readily available -- particularly with the public agencies like the City of Milwaukee or the State Highway Department. Also try to get with some of the alumni who either run their own consulting organizations or are in management positions. They often will hire people during the summer.
