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Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Courtney grew up wanting to be a veterinarian - until Hurricane Katrina changed the course of her life. After attending numerous engineering and math camps, she left Louisiana to pursue degrees in civil engineering and mathematics at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas.

 

She began a career in construction project management of heavy civil infrastructure projects that has included work at DFW International and Love Field Airports, highways, and local municipalities. Courtney went on to obtain a master's degree in civil engineering with a concentration in structures from SMU and a master's degree in business at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. She is also a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas. 

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In her spare time, Courtney serves on the board for SOSMC USA, a nonprofit raising funds to renovate three buildings on the campus of a school for low-income disabled children in Chennai, India. She enjoys traveling, attending arts events, discovering new music, watching Korean dramas, and spending time with her fluffy bunny, Albus.

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Courtney Kelly

Speaking and Voluntary Engagements

ONGOING

  • February 2022 to Present - Member, SMU Civil & Environmental Engineering Management Program Industry Advisory Committee

  • January 2022 to Present - Member, TEXO Foundation High School Committee

  • 2020 to Present - Mentor, SMU Hart Center for Engineering Leadership Industry Mentoring Program

  • 2018 to Present - Presenter, Highland Park High School Science & Technology Festival

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​2022

  • December 14th - Ennis High School

    • Presented to two classes of juniors and seniors and discussed the world of construction management​

  • November 14th - Wesley Rankin Girls of Hope, Girls of Honor 

    • Spoke to elementary and middle school girls about careers in construction and engineering​

    • Led the group in an activity on effective communication

  • November 14th - UMass @ Amherst AGC Chapter Meeting

    • Served as a guest speaker for the student chapter and shared career advice​

  • November 1st - Region 10 ESC Education and Industry Summit

    • Participated as a panelist in a discussion on how educators can better prepare students for STEM careers​

  • October 21st - Mattahunt Elementary CIW Visit

    • Surprised the 5th graders as a visiting author and led them in a LEGO activity on effective communication for Construction Inclusion Week​

  • October 7th - HPHS Sci-Fest 

    • Presented to two classes of high school students on working in the construction industry and career opportunities​

  • September 21st - MLK Branch Library

    • Read to 15 kids during story time and personalized donated copies of Celeste Saves the City​

  • September 17th - Trinity River Book Fest

    • Participated as an author​

  • August 27th - Author Visit at Louisiana Children’s Museum

    • Read to multiple groups of kids as the featured author for story time at the museum​

  • August 14th - Beach Pop Up Story Time

    • Participated in the Daddy and Me Literacy Program's last story time event of the year in Boston, MA

    • Led 20 kids in a STEM activity to demonstrate the effect of coastal erosion ​

  • July 16th  - Crayola Experience Plano

    • Read Celeste Saves the City during 4 sessions of story time​

  • May 27th - Beaver Math, Science, and Technology Center Career Day

    • Spoke to 4 classes of 2nd and 3rd graders about careers in engineering and construction, emphasizing the importance of safety, pathways into the profession through education and vocational training, and soft skills

    • Donated a copy of Celeste Saves the City to the school library

  • May 23rd - A Woman’s Job

    • Profile featured to highlight the career diversity of women

  • April 18th - Texas Woman's University Center for Student Leadership

    • Presented to students on “executive presence” and leadership

  • April 5th - AIA Dallas | TEXO Industry Roundtable: Mentorship

    • Moderated a panel discussion on mentorship

  • April 5th - SMU SWE Chapter Meeting

    • Present to students on the importance of networking

  • March 24th - McCarthy Women’s History Month Panel

    • Served as a panelist for a discussion on “leading at every level” from the perspective of project management in the construction industry

  • March 5-11th - Women in Construction Week

    • Spotlighted by McCarthy Building Companies as a leader

  • March 3rd - Southern University and A&M College

    • Worked with a team to establish a partnership between McCarthy and SU to increase the number of diverse candidates for internships and full-time positions at McCarthy

    • Presented to over 40 students on careers at McCarthy

  • March 4th - Texas Woman's University Center for Student Leadership

    • Presented to students on the importance of networking

  • February 22nd - SMU SWE She Networks, She Wins

    • Served as a panelist for a discussion on leadership, work/life balance, career success and challenges, and being a woman in a male-dominated industry

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