Shelby Noonan’s (BS ‘26) early introduction to the construction field sparked a lifelong fascination with the industry and set her on the path to earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management Engineering Technology (CMET) from the College of Technology at Purdue University Northwest (PNW).
As a child, Noonan’s father worked in residential construction, flipped houses alongside her mother and built everything from homes to furniture, regularly bringing Noonan and her sister to job sites.
“Growing up surrounded by construction sparked my interest in it,” says Noonan. “It was kind of cool watching things get built.”
After an internship with F.H. Paschen in Merrillville, Indiana, Noonan gravitated toward heavy civil construction, a specialized field focused on infrastructure like roadways, bridges, railroads and concrete systems. As an intern, she gained hands-on experience in several different areas of construction management, including working on the Ripley Street (SR 51) bridge project in Lake Station, Indiana. The project, a major bridge replacement and intersection redesign, also formed the basis for her CMET senior project.
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While at PNW, Noonan served as president of the Construction Club, was a member of the PNW STEM Student Union and a student mentor for the CMET program. As captain of the Heavy Civil Team, the Schererville native led her team to a second-place finish in the 2025 Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 3 competition. It was the first time a PNW team had placed at the competition. In addition, Noonan organized a hands-on bridge-building initiative on campus to generate interest in heavy civil construction among her fellow CMET students.
Noonan is set to begin her career as a project engineer with F.H. Paschen after graduation. She plans on moving up to a project manager position after gaining more experience in the industry. Eventually, she would like to pursue a graduate degree in either construction management or business administration.
“The professors really understood the field side of the industry...I feel like I learned every side of the industry that I’m going to see when I’m out in the field.”
What did you like most about the CMET program at PNW?
“I liked that the professors really understood the field side of the industry. They had a variety of experience, including an architect, structural engineers and instructors who have spent years in the industry. I feel like I learned every side of the industry that I’m going to see when I’m out in the field.”
How do you think your involvement in campus organizations and activities helped define your success at PNW?
“I’ve gained valuable skills in communication and public speaking which are important in our field. At first, I wasn’t comfortable speaking in front of people, but being involved in the Construction Club and the competitions, I was able to gain confidence and now it’s not a problem. The construction world is still a male-dominated field and that’s something I knew going in. It can be easy to be overlooked but having the knowledge, hands-on experience and being able to communicate effectively definitely helps out in the field.”
Did you have a pivotal experience while attending PNW?
“Taking second place in the ASC competition and being the first PNW team to do that. I had been to the competition three times before we placed. The year we placed, I focused on teaching myself everything we needed to know for the competition and getting the other students ready. I scheduled training sessions with different companies so we knew what to expect going into the competition – which was unlike the previous year. The experience made me more confident in my knowledge and skills.”
What words of advice would you share with prospective students looking to attend PNW?
“Set goals and stay focused but still make time for other activities. I found I did better in semesters where I made time for things outside of classes.”
Was there anyone at PNW who inspired or encouraged you along the way?
Department Chair, Construction Science and Organizational Leadership, Associate Professor, CMET
“He was very encouraging and always made time to speak with me. He was the advisor to the Construction Club and put in so much effort to help us. He always made sure we had everything we needed to be successful.”
