Tower Magazine - Summer/Fall 2024 - 5

From the machine shop to the construction site and from
the printing press to the server room, men and women
work side by side designing, building, repairing, and
maintaining. Historically male-dominated fields have long
embraced the skills and talents of women; but within the
trades and beyond, wages haven't always been as equal.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is proud
to report that, for the Class of 2022 (most recent
stats available), the average starting salary for our
male and female graduates is the same: $47,500.
This statistic is significant because it bucks the
national trend, where women earn $.83 to the
$1.00 of what their male counterparts make.
According to a report from the U.S. Department of
Labor, 2022 saw the gender pay gap narrow to its
lowest point in recorded history. Women in the skilled
trades are reporting higher earnings than ever. There
is, unarguably, still more work to do, but this data
demonstrates that pay equity is headed in the right
direction nationally-and, locally, Thaddeus Stevens
College alumni are seeing a difference already.
We'd like to introduce you to a few of them.
MONICA ABREU-ADAMES, '19
Virtual Design and Construction Engineer,
Wohlsen Construction Company
During her junior and senior year at Hempfield
High School, Monica Abreu-Adames took a few
architecture-related electives. Inspired by her
teacher and enamored with software programs
like Revit and AutoCAD, she became even more
interested in pursuing a career in the architecture,
engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.
She joined her school's chapter of ACE Mentoring
Program of America, which often used facilities at
Thaddeus Stevens College for projects. The group also
took field trips to the College's Home Construction
Project sites. By the time she was ready to search
for colleges, she was already intimately familiar with
Thaddeus Stevens College and the programs it offered.
" I was also looking for affordability and for something
close to home, " she explained of her choice to attend
Thaddeus Stevens College for architectural technology.
" I wanted to make the most of my education. "
As graduation neared, Monica was exploring the idea of
working for an architecture firm. But, at a Revit Users
Group networking event, she met the technology and
innovation leader at Wohlsen Construction and saw the
opportunity to expand her horizons in the construction
industry. Her role has evolved since she started four years
ago, but it's rooted in visualization and reality capture.
" I really like visualizing things and found a passion for
renderings, " she explains, adding that her current position
allows her to use programs she's been working with since
high school, evolving right along with the technology.
Monica, who also has a bachelor's degree in leadership,
says the idea of feeling like she's worth less than her
male counterparts hasn't even occurred to her.
" In my role, I don't notice a difference. It's been really
awesome to feel like part of a team, " she says of her time
at Wohlsen. To other women entering the field she advises
two things: knowing your worth and expressing humility.
" You have to be willing to learn and pick up new skills. "
Picking up new skills is something she continues
to do, whether it's visiting construction
sites to see her renderings in practice or
taking on new responsibilities at work.
" I learn on the job every day. I've always been
taught to look for answers and resources, "
she says. " That's something that was drilled
into us by my professor, Tedd Williams. "
MIRANDA DOROSZ '22
Web and Software Developer, LNP/LancasterOnline
Born in western Canada, Miranda Dorosz was
already quite into computers by the time she
moved across the continent in first grade.
" I always knew what I wanted to do, " she explains.
Initially drawn to game programming, she knew it
was practical to broaden her options. After high
school, the Lititz resident took a gap year before
enrolling in the Computer & Networking Systems
Administration program at Thaddeus Stevens College.
Miranda's first year at the College was not actually
at the College. Starting college during the COVID-19
pandemic meant learning from home. But despite the
unprecedented situation, hands-on experiences were
still a big part of her education. For a hardware course,
she built a computer at home. Later, she built a website
using PhP, a program she now uses daily in her work.
" We didn't just look at pictures in a textbook, " she
explains, adding that when campus reopened, she and
her classmates helped complete the new networking
lab. She continued keeping things connected on campus
Thaddeus Stevens College : 4
Tower Magazine - Summer/Fall 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tower Magazine - Summer/Fall 2024
