Faces of WISEST: Samantha Jones

Growing up in a rural city, there were fewer opportunities available to both motivate and pursue science-related passions outside of the high school setting. As soon as I heard about the WISEST SRP in 2008, I knew I had to participate! I originally wanted to pursue a career in Marine Biology, so I was placed into Biological Sciences. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that biology wasn't the right choice for me, however, being a part of the SRP allowed me to network with other passionate students and opened my eyes to multiple other careers in the STEM field – namely, Engineering!

After high school, I decided to pursue a career in Electrical Engineering. I graduated with a BSc. in Nano-Electrical Engineering from the U of A in 2014 and am currently working as a Professional Engineer for an Oil & Gas company in Grande Prairie. I am also pursuing a Masters in Engineering Management (M.Eng) from the U of A while remote opportunities are available.

WISEST helped me to realize that there are other like-minded individuals out there, and the amazing opportunities that exist if you start looking. It has become a passion of mine to promote diversity in both Engineering and STEM in general by volunteering with both the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) and WISEST. Nothing is too big or too far if you’re willing to work on it and strive to achieve the best that you can, no matter what others say!