Building on Success at Roger, Construction Management Major Lands Position at Shawmut

After graduation, Alyssa Foerster ’23, a Construction Management major with minors in Business and Sustainability Studies, will be taking part in the Construction Management Skills Training Program at Shawmut Design and Construction in Boston.  

Connecting with Industry Leaders: “When applying to colleges, Roger stood out because of its connections to the community, alumni network, and job placement rate. I’ve gotten many industry connections through Roger Williams. That’s how I got my position at Shawmut. One of my professors works for them.”   

Building Houses Builds Skills: “The Construction Management program prepares you really well for field work with hands-on training. At most institutions, you just learn about it in the classroom. My sophomore year, we built a small house. The Construction Management facilities at Roger are amazing. There’s top-of-the-line equipment – like the two-ton crane – that I would never have access to if I went anywhere else.”  

Competitions and Clubs: “I love how I could join multiple clubs and be part of multiple opportunities. I’ve learned a lot of leadership skills and ways to network. I’ve been on a research team and to four construction competitions. The ASC Region 1 Student Competition took place in Albany, N.Y., this past year, and my team placed first. The competitions are really intense, but they’re a lot of fun. It’s a huge learning opportunity.”  

Foerster, of Camp Hill, Penn., has been part of the Construction Management Club and Women in Construction among other groups and has served as a tour guide and Admissions Ambassador.  

Every spring, as Commencement nears, RWU spotlights members of the graduating class. Suggestions are welcome. Email: stories@rwu.edu