In this not-to-be-missed session at the Women in Rail 2024 conference, presented by Railway Age and RT&S, illuminating new research on the underrepresentation of women of color in railroad engineering will be presented by Jacqueline L. Patterson, Co-founder and Vice President of Zephyr UAS, Inc. Patterson is a doctoral candidate in the Organizational Change and Leadership Program at the University of Southern California and was an honoree of the Railway Age Women in Rail (2022) and RT&S Women in Engineering (2023) award programs.
Patterson tells Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures that she has been working on her research for two years. In support of her dissertation, she recently collected quantitative data through an online survey of Railway Age readers and SWE (Society of Women Engineers), and conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with women from Class I railroads and rail transit agencies to garner a comprehensive look at the industry.
As for what to expect from this research at Women in Rail 2024, Patterson said: “Without giving too much away, attendees can expect a candid assessment of the current participation of women of color in the industry. My research shows that while the railroad industry has made significant strides toward inclusivity, there are still areas that need improvement. A recurring theme from the interviews is that although progress has been made, we have not yet reached our goal.”
Previously, at Women in Rail 2023, Patterson also served as a speaker on the Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail Honorees Panel. When asked about what her experience was like at that event, Patterson said, “Attending the conference was truly inspirational, and I’m grateful to Railway Age / RT&S for organizing such a remarkable event. Being a speaker was especially thrilling, as it allowed me to validate some of my thoughts and feelings with my colleagues. Sharing our experiences is a crucial step in driving the industry toward greater inclusivity and fairness.”
Meet Jacqueline Patterson
With more than 40 years of professional experience in the rail transit industry, Jacqueline Patterson co-founded Zephyr UAS, Inc., a company that specializes in rail engineering; construction management, and aerial mapping services utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Patterson’s expertise encompasses all aspects of railroad engineering from conceptual design to construction management and contract administration for light rail, heavy rail, commuter rail and freight rail. Her work can be seen on the Los Angeles Metro system, Amtrak, Metrolink Commuter Rail Project, and several capital improvements projects for the Class I railroads, including Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway. Patterson has also conducted numerous constructability reviews. In addition, she was a part-time lecturer at the University of Southern California (USC) in the Sonny Astani School of Civil Engineering, where she taught Introduction to Railroad Engineering for five years.
After selling out last year, Women in Rail 2024 has expanded to two days—Nov. 5-6—and features instructive panels covering everything from mentorship to advancing current skillsets to match evolving technologies; a luncheon for Railway Age’s 2023 Women in Rail and RT&S’ 2024 Women in Railroad Engineering award honorees; and a tour of Metra’s rebuild shop and training center.
Reminder to Register
Spots for Women in Rail 2024 are filling up fast! Early bird registration ENDS on September 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Supporting Organizations
Industry support for the Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail Conference is strong, including sponsorship and promotional partnerships with: TrinityRail (platinum); RailWorks (cocktail reception); CSX (gold); AITX (case study); CN (luncheon); Canadian Pacific Kansas City (continental breakfast); R. J. Corman (registration); Amsted Digital Solutions (bronze); Anacostia (bronze); Genesee & Wyoming (bronze); Norfolk Southern (bronze); Union Pacific (morning coffee break); Patriot Rail (afternoon coffee break); Edna A. Rice Executive Recruiters, Inc. (morning coffee break); The National Association of Railway Business Women; and The League of Railway Women.
Learn More
View the full program for Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail 2024. Register early to save!
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Chalon at jchalon@sbpub.com or (212) 620-7224. View the sponsorship kit >>
Don’t Forget!
Through Oct. 1, Railway Age is accepting nominations for its 2024 Women in Rail Awards program, which will honor 20 trailblazers for their achievements in our November issue. These outstanding railroaders will be selected based on their leadership, vision, innovation and accomplishments. This award celebrates female leaders in rail and pioneers with a track record of breaking down barriers and helping to create industry opportunities for women. Entries will be judged by KellyAnne Gallagher, CEO of the Commuter Rail Coalition, and Barbara Wilson, Senior Advisor at Railroad Financial Corporation—both of whom will participate as session speakers and moderators at the Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail Conference. Submit your nomination now >>
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