KU Engineering department celebrates new CEAE Academy member

LAWRENCE – University of Kansas civil, environmental and architectural engineering alumna Katie Schultz, class of 2003, has been inducted into the KU department’s CEAE Academy. Members are elected to the academy by the CEAE Advisory Board in recognition of their outstanding professional achievements, civic service and advocacy and support for the department. 

Schultz was selected for this honor due to her contributions to the field of engineering and her ongoing commitment to mentorship and leadership within the industry.

Schultz graduated from KU in 2003, but she was a Jayhawk long before she enrolled in classes. Her father, Christopher Allen, was an electrical engineering professor who died in December 2024. It was his love of engineering that inspired her to join the School of Engineering her freshman year.

“I was born a Jayhawk for sure,” Shultz said. “I was fortunate to get my father’s gift at being good at math, and he always encouraged me to think about engineering as a pathway.”

She initially started her degree in chemical engineering but soon found that it wasn’t quite the right fit. She then joined her father’s footsteps into electrical engineering, but though she enjoyed the content, something still didn’t feel right. It wasn’t until after she took a step back from engineering, joining the School of Business for a year, that she said she was able to see the bigger picture about her skill sets and how they could shape a career.

“Dr. Thomas Mulinazzi, the associate dean of engineering at the time, asked to have a meeting with me,” Shultz said. “It was a pivotal conversation for me because I was able to be honest about my experiences to date. He told me I shouldn’t do something I didn’t like and encouraged me to consider civil engineering.”

Now, 22 years after her graduation, Schultz is taking the lead at engineering firm Black & Veatch as VP, engineering & development services global resources leader, where she is responsible for the over 4,500 Black & Veatch engineers around the globe. Over the past year she traveled to Black & Veatch offices across the United States, Asia and the United Kingdom, and she will be in India later this month.

“The goal, and my passion, is to meet face to face with our professionals,” Schultz said. “It’s hard to be in a regional office where you’re supported from world headquarters in Kansas City, so we want to make sure there is a bit of that human touch, literally and figuratively.”

Schultz has had a hand in many programs within the company, from supporting female engineers to providing young professionals with necessary soft and hard skills they’ll need to succeed in the future.

“The world needs passionate engineers now more than ever,” she said. “So, for those who have chosen this field, let’s make sure they’re cared for. Let’s make sure they are supported and growing.”

Some of the programs Schultz has helped to implement include the EDGE Program, which is an early career rotation program that gives engineers an opportunity to try different functions within an engineering firm to ensure they’re choosing the right one for their career path, and Black & Veatch’s learning laboratory, which provides both a physical and digital space to facilitate knowledge sharing and skill building.

Schultz has taken her programming outside of Black & Veatch as well, offering her support with IHAWKe programming. During her tenure as vice president of talent at Black & Veatch, Schultz championed funding for the IHAWKe Leadership Retreat, ensuring that student organization leaders could build connections and collaborate effectively before the school year began. She also facilitated visits to Black & Veatch, providing students with industry exposure and professional insights.

As a mother of four, Schultz is also passionate about showing women that they can successfully balance family life with a thriving career and shares her professional experiences through social media in the hope that she can inspire other women to pursue their ambitions without hesitation.

“Don’t let the world tell you that you can’t do it,” she said. “I love being a mom. It’s my most important role. That doesn’t stop me from being able to contribute meaningfully to the field of engineering, though. They can both exist together in a healthy way.”

Reflecting on this honor, Schultz said she is grateful for the support of her father, the KU Engineering community and the lifelong friendships she’s made that have shaped her journey.

“This award is an incredible honor,” she said. “I hope it serves as encouragement for future engineers to build meaningful connections, support one another and push forward in making an impact.”