Meet Elizabeth Schuler, an Electrical Engineer at Farris Engineering (farris-usa.com).
How did you get started in the business? – For as long as I can remember, my favorite subject in school was math. Growing up, I also liked to build houses in The Sims computer game, which initially led me to consider architecture. My dad pointed me in the direction of the Architectural Engineering program at the University of Nebraska, and from there I discovered I liked the electrical engineering portion of the program.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Each completed project is its own achievement. If I had to choose my most important achievement, I would say it was obtaining my professional engineering license. That allowed me to fully step into my engineering role and seal drawings.
Tell us a little about your family. – My husband, Chris, is a shop teacher at Blair High School. We have been married for almost nine years, and we have two children. Noah is almost four years old, and Eleanor is 18 months. I have a younger sister and a younger brother, and we attended Fort Calhoun Community Schools. My siblings and parents still live in the Omaha area, so we see each other pretty frequently.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – As cliché as it might sound, graduating college and entering the “real world” was a big transition. I got married five months after graduating, so that year brought with it several pivotal moments.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – If I am with my family, I enjoy doing a fun activity with the kids. It fills me with joy to watch them have fun. If I get some time to myself, I enjoy reading a good book. Regardless, my day is always better when I go for a run and listen to music.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I have grapheme-color synesthesia, which means my perception of numbers and some letters is associated with different colors. I took advantage of this unique trait during a History of Architecture class in college, in which I had to memorize dates for many buildings of architectural significance.
Who inspires you? – I’m inspired by Taylor Swift. She is a very gifted and hard-working songwriter who has worked to develop her craft. She persevered after initially being rejected by the music industry. Now, she is one of the best-selling musicians and has numerous accolades. She is paving the way for newer artists and working to make the changes that are important to her. It is inspiring to see her accomplish so much, especially since we are so close in age and both females navigating male-dominated professions.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” – John Wooden.
If you could have a super power, what would it be? – I think my answer to this would change depending on my phase of life, but right now I would choose to teleport. We recently did an eleven-hour drive with our two kids, and I would have loved the ability to snap my fingers and appear in Ohio.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? bschuler@farris-usa.com.