Kimberly K. Cornett, P.E., F.ASCE, a project manager with Jacobs and an ambassador for civil engineering, has been named a Fellow by the ASCE Board of Direction.
Cornett has served ASCE in several positions over the past 18 years. Her career in both engineering and the Society began in the San Antonio Community, where she started serving the ASCE San Antonio Branch as treasurer and finished as the Branch President in 2009. During her time there, she discovered a passion for engaging young people with the hope that they would become interested in the sciences. She participated in career fairs, presentations and many E-week events encouraging students from kindergarten through high school to get involved in STEM-related careers.
The most memorable experience was the Engineering Design Challenge at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she coordinated high school–level students participating in engineering challenges, the top award being a scholarship to UTSA to study engineering.
Having moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, Cornett began attending ASCE meetings in both cities for networking, but quickly joined ASCE’s Fort Worth Branch, stepping into the Section Director position. While in this role for four years, she concurrently served as the Outreach chair for the branch. She started working with branch members and local schools to coordinate activities such as career fairs, presentations and local community STEM events.
From her role coordinating Outreach, she transitioned to serve the Texas Section as student activity chair. There she coordinated with university students, assisting them with planning the Texas ASCE Student Symposium where the Texas-Mexico Region hold their annual ASCE competitions. She continued serving as Vice President of Educational Affairs and continues to oversee the symposium along with expanding oversight of the STEM and Younger members committees.
Cornett’s passion for engaging students starts with kindergarten-age children, steering them into STEM activities with the hope they too will learn to love the sciences. She has grown this passion from mainly local events to statewide events. She often says, “I am here to make sure that others know the ‘E’ in STEM stands for Engineering.” She was awarded the ASCE Texas Section Professional Service award in 2018 for her continuing and dedicated service to the organization at all levels.
