Careers in Construction Month: Kayla Noland Paves the Way for Women in Construction

October is Careers in Construction Month. At UACCM, our Construction Technology program prepares students to enter the profession, but Kayla Noland has gone above and beyond to equip herself for a successful career in construction after completing the program. 

“I knew I needed to start the next chapter of my life and when I was researching programs of study, Construction Technology fit in line with my interests and skills,” said Kayla Noland, first-year Construction Technology student at UACCM. 

Despite no formal training prior to attending UACCM or family history with construction, Noland has excelled in the construction field both academically and professionally. Recently, she received the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Greater Little Rock Chapter 12 scholarship in the amount of $500. She also received the Build Your Future Scholarship from the National Center for Construction Education & Research in the amount of $2000, one of only 10 recipients across the United States. “Kayla is self-motivated and is always prepared,” said Construction Technology instructor Aaron Hill.

However, being a woman in construction comes with its own unique challenges: “Some challenges are as simple as the clothing being made for men and not fitting properly, and finding work gloves that will fit my smaller hands. There are also challenges of being respected and taken seriously in the construction field,” Noland said. This is where finding a supportive community became all the more important. 

Noland became a student member with NAWIC Greater Little Rock Chapter 12 after her instructor, Aaron Hill, suggested she join. Through this organization, she has the opportunity to meet other women in construction and find support as a student and woman in the construction field. “NAWIC offers a place for women in construction to gather and talk with other women in a male-dominated field to continue learning and having support,” she praised. 

Despite the possible challenges women in construction may face, Noland encourages others to consider Construction Technology when choosing their career path. While she understands the fear associated with pursuing a career where women are not well represented, she says that she has received a tremendous amount of support through organizations such as NAWIC and from others who have faced similar challenges. Kimberly Moore, Manager of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Koontz Electric Co., Inc. and President of NAWIC Greater Little Rock Chapter 12, echoes the sentiment.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for women to take part in the growth of the industry,” Moore stated. “I think it’s important to have women working in construction because we are equally as capable of coordinating projects, running crews on jobsites, operating equipment, and everything in between.”

For more information about the Construction Technology program at UACCM, visit www.uaccm.edu/academics/degree_prog/cons.html.