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Theresa Richards

Structural Engineering

Theresa Richards
Theresa Richards is an African American PhD student in the Department of Structural Engineering. She was raised in San Bernardino County with her parents and six sisters. Theresa obtained her Bachelor of Science in Structural Engineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). As a former Triton, she competed and won three conference championships for UCSD Track and Field in javelin. Following graduation, she worked for Moffatt & Nichol in Long Beach, CA. While working full time, Theresa pursued her Master of Science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Both institutions, UCSD and UCLA presented social and academical challenges which Theresa overcame daily. These same challenges also taught fundamental life skills outside of academia. Prior to pursuing her PhD, Theresa obtained a commercial underwater diving certification and received her Professional Engineering license in three states; California, New Jersey and New York. After eight years of industry experience, she decided to pursue her PhD and eventually a professorship because she knows it is vital to find a way to encourage more people of color to pursue and graduate with a Structural Engineering degree and teachers are invaluable to their success.