Kennesaw State Professor Encourages Women To Pursue Construction Management

Press release from Kennesaw State University:

Jun 21, 2021

Kennesaw State professor encourages women to pursue construction management

Irish Horsey

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Jun 21, 2021) — As a student, it wasn’t uncommon for Irish Horsey to look around and find herself
as the only woman in a classroom full of construction management majors.

Now an assistant professor and interim chair of Kennesaw State University’s Department of Construction Management, she uses her platform to demonstrate it doesn’t have to be that way.“Growing up, I had my fair share of doubters who tried to steer me in other directions
when I wanted to study construction management, and I think that is due in large part
to a lack of understanding of what the field is,” said Horsey, who recently earned
the distinction of being the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Building
Construction from the Georgia Institute of Technology. “That perception, I think,
is what causes women to look elsewhere, and I’ve made it my mission to set the record
straight.”

Construction managers are similar to project managers in other industries, only specialized
for the built environment, she added. It’s a discipline that calls for creativity
and best suited for students who see themselves as problem solvers.

It's also a rapidly growing industry. However, having spent nearly 20 years in construction
management for the public and private sectors before making the leap into academia,
Horsey saw firsthand that women were disproportionately represented among the workforce.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction manager jobs are expected
to grow by 8 percent by 2029. However, women made up about 10 percent of the overall
construction workforce in 2018, and less than 44 percent of the professional and management
sector, according to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).

To buck the trend, Horsey recently guided more than 25 students in establishing the
Kennesaw Women in Construction (KWIC), of which she serves as faculty advisor. The
organization exists to help with recruitment and retention of women by creating an
environment of “support and belonging” for those entering the industry, said KWIC
president Madlyn Wright.

In recent months, the organization has hosted panel discussions involving women in
the industry, community service events and networking opportunities.

“I remember being a freshman and feeling like a fish out of water being one of the
few women in the construction management program,” Wright said. “Even in classes that
had other women, most rarely talked to one another and I think that is partially because
we had become so accustomed to being in the background in a male-dominated major.
Now, it’s refreshing to be able to talk to other women about their experiences in
the industry, whether through classes or jobs, and be able to fully understand and
empathize with them.”

With the success of KWIC, Horsey has expressed interest in helping other universities
launch women-centric organizations of their own.

“All of us in the College are very proud of the work Dr. Horsey has put into improving
diversity both within academia and industry,” said Andrew Payne, dean of the College of Architecture and Construction Management. “She serves as an excellent example of the opportunities a career in construction
can afford, and we look forward to seeing many women like her pursue their passion
for the built environment at KSU.”

– Travis Highfield

Photos by David Caselli

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers close to 200 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

This press release was produced by Kennesaw State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.