Tampa Bay Women Encouraged To Pursue Careers In Transportation

Women in the Tampa Bay region and around the country are being encouraged to pursue careers in transportation.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has expanded an internship program to specifically aim at encouraging young women to pursue careers in transportation.

Few women are now employed in the transportation industry yet there are many opportunities at airports, in engineering and aerospace firms, and with railroad, transit and DOT offices.

The internship program is currently being operated out of Spelman College in Atlanta, and will be expanded to 10 regions in the country.

Women attending universities and colleges will be eligible to participate in the internships run by the department's Small Business Transportation Resource Centers.

The DOT also offers several internship programs and fellowships to high school and college students.

The expansion of this particular internship program supports the efforts of the Obama administration to increase career opportunities for women and girls.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Women's Transportation Seminar International in May of this year. This Memorandum is designed to inspire women to pursue careers in transportation, which often require a degree in science, technology, engineering or math.

For more information visit the DOT's Resources for Women and Girls website.

Writer: Mandy Erfourth
Source: Olivia Alair, U.S. DOT
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