ASCE Texas Section Board of Direction members are asked to fill out a questionnaire so Section members can get to know them a little better. Let’s hear from Director At Large Marita Moya PE, CFM:

When did you first get involved with ASCE at any level (student chapter, local branch, section)?

I started getting involved with ASCE my first year working. A coworker asked me to be on the Golf Tournament committee for the Austin Branch Younger Member Forum (YMF). After that I remained involved, serving on multiple positions for the YMF board and gradually began to volunteer with the Austin Branch. I now serve on the Austin Branch as Webmaster co-chair and the Texas Section and one of the First Year Director at Large!

What is your favorite thing about ASCE?

My favorite thing about ASCE has been the friendships I have gained. It is always fun to learn more about the profession and share it with like-minded people!

What’s your most memorable project?

So far, my most memorable project is a flood mitigation project along Gills Branch in the City of Bastrop. Gills Branch overflows its banks impacting downtown Bastrop, causing extensive flood risk and damages. I completed the initial floodplain analysis and then investigate various mitigation solutions. I conducted a feasibility study of flood mitigation solutions and then designed proposing channel and road crossings improvements to safely convey overflows. This project will make Bastrop more resilient to extreme rainfall events in the future.

What do you love the most about being a civil engineer?

I love about being a civil engineer because of the positive impact we have on the communities we serve. There is a lot of responsibility in what we do as our communities continue to grow and data becomes more available. Today we design and build infrastructure and develop statewide floodplain data all in preparation for tomorrow’s sustainable future. What we do as civil engineers makes a difference.

Give us three words to describe what a civil engineer does:

Solutions, Lead, Protect

What is your go-to calculator?

TI-36X Pro! I bought this calculator my freshmen year of college. The rest is history.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoy getting outside and enjoying soaking in some vitamin D. Otherwise I really love crafting. I am a frequent shopper at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby. My favorite type projects are creating stationary cards for all occasions and decorating tea towels with some fun sayings!

How do you order your eggs?

Scrambled, Over-easy, poached, hard-boiled… is there really a bad egg?

What was your high school nickname?

Although I have had various nicknames from family members over the years, I typically didn’t encourage many… I am named after my grandmother and have always been really proud to share her name! When I was younger, I used to correct people to make sure they pronounced the “t” in MariTA! 😊

Mountains or beach?

Beach! I always find a sense of wonder and peace staring out into the ocean. Life is a beach not a mountain

Learn more about the ASCE Texas Section leadership.