Lisa Muzekari quickly rose to become one of the most prominent civil and environmental engineers in South Carolina, but if it wasn’t for one encouraging mentor, this pioneering female leader’s journey might’ve never reached its full potential.  

Muzekari grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, before moving to the Charleston area in high school. It was this move that planted the seeds for her UofSC experience.

“It was a counselor in high school that suggested that I try engineering, because of my love for math and science,” said Muzekari, '91 civil engineering. “I actually started out as a chemical engineering major here and switched to civil after taking a few civil courses because I loved it.”

Fast forward to 2019, and Muzekari is now a founding member of the Columbia office and the first female shareholder in the 73-year history of Thomas & Hutton, a professional engineering and consulting firm. She also was named one of the 2019 Women of Influence by the Columbia Business Report for her work to make the Midlands a better place.

However, Muzekari says there weren’t many faces like hers sitting alongside her in classes.

“There were very few females,” she said.  “We probably graduated four of us in the entire class for civil that year.” Read the full article here.