Natalia Wilson: Outstanding Senior in Civil Engineering

Engineering is both a rigorous discipline and an art form to Natalia Wilson, an outgoing civil engineering student at the University of California, Davis. 

“Throughout my time here, I’ve come to understand that our engineering education is really about teaching a way to think,” she said. “It has strengthened my problem-solving and critical thinking skills, which I know will help me wherever I go.” 

A testament to her regard for the value of being challenged, Wilson’s favorite civil engineering class was a geotechnical course on soil mechanics, despite specializing in water. The instructor was then-Ph.D. student Laura Luna, who is now an assistant professor at Utah State University. 

“Throughout the class, [Luna] infused so much life, interest and passion for the subject into her lectures. So much so, she even made me consider switching my depth from water to geotech,” Wilson said. 

However, what stood out to Wilson the most was Luna’s approach to teaching. 

“She emphasized that we were responsible for our own learning and made it clear that we would get as much out of the class as we put into it,” Wilson said. “Higher education is a choice, and I think this mindset is a very valuable one to operate by.” 

The summer before her senior year, Wilson took this principle to heart and committed to a study abroad course about sustainable wastewater treatment systems in Guadalajara, Mexico. At the end of the program, she helped design a decentralized system to provide a recycled water source for a small town outside of the city to use for irrigation. 

“The questions were far more open-ended, and it never felt like there was a single correct answer to reach,” she said. “By the end of the class, I felt more comfortable working in this style. Furthermore, it was a really important example of how people can be centered in engineering problems.” 

After graduation, Wilson will take a few months to travel with friends made during her time as an undergraduate. When she returns, she plans to work for a consulting firm in the Bay Area, where she can pursue a career path in river restoration engineering.