Professional and Career Topics

Many of us are here today because Tirza personally invited us to join these forums. She had a remarkable gift for connecting people, fostering relationships, and building a community where professionals could learn from and support one another. 

As we reflect on her passing, it seems fitting that our Professional and Career Topics forum honor the impact she had on us-not only through what she accomplished, but through what she taught those of us who knew her here.

I invite you to share something you learned from Tirza, whether it was a lesson in leadership, mentorship, networking, service, or simply the example she set through her actions. It could be a piece of advice she gave, a quality you admired, or a moment that changed how you approach your career or your interactions with others.

My hope is that this thread becomes a collection of the lessons she shared-both intentionally and by example. In continuing to learn from one another, just as she encouraged us to do, we can carry forward the community that Tirza worked so hard to build.

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Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
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Tirza truly embodied so many wonderful leadership qualities. One that I was always impressed by was her ability to create connections between other people. She had a gift for bringing people together who could help one another. In order to do that, she had to listen well, remember what people had told her over the years, and see their potential. 

As part of the Topic Moderators group she formed, I've had so many interesting conversations with people across age group, sectors of civil engineering, and countries. Most, if not all, of whom I would not have come in direct contact with otherwise. Now they are such an important part of my career.

At the MRLC this year, she connected me to Jennifer Lawrence, another ASCE staff member. Tirza knew I had talked about how much I enjoyed finding ASCE landmark plaques on vacations. She knew Jennifer is the staff contact for the History and Heritage Committee and was looking for a younger member to join the committee. Outside of Tirza's encouragement, I probably would not have looked into the possibility of participating in the committee.

Every space I know of that Tirza impacted was better off for it. I want to be that kind of force for good within my own sphere of influence. 

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Heidi C. Wallace, P.E., M.ASCE
Tulsa, OK
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I completely agree Heidi - many people find themselves to be well-connected, and many people are "people-people".  But to be both and willingly make the effort to remember so much about so many, so that you can link them together is a skill that seems like it has to be rooted in a desire to help others. Tirza embodied that completely and many of us here are better off because of it. 

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Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-23-2026 09:53 AM
From: Heidi Wallace
Subject: Leadership Legacy: Lessons from Tirza

Tirza truly embodied so many wonderful leadership qualities. One that I was always impressed by was her ability to create connections between other people. She had a gift for bringing people together who could help one another. In order to do that, she had to listen well, remember what people had told her over the years, and see their potential. 

As part of the Topic Moderators group she formed, I've had so many interesting conversations with people across age group, sectors of civil engineering, and countries. Most, if not all, of whom I would not have come in direct contact with otherwise. Now they are such an important part of my career.

At the MRLC this year, she connected me to Jennifer Lawrence, another ASCE staff member. Tirza knew I had talked about how much I enjoyed finding ASCE landmark plaques on vacations. She knew Jennifer is the staff contact for the History and Heritage Committee and was looking for a younger member to join the committee. Outside of Tirza's encouragement, I probably would not have looked into the possibility of participating in the committee.

Every space I know of that Tirza impacted was better off for it. I want to be that kind of force for good within my own sphere of influence. 

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Heidi C. Wallace, P.E., M.ASCE
Tulsa, OK
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I was not aware of her passing, like her many workings hidden from my view, which is the lesson I take. While I did not know her personally, I know that what she did behind the scenes, unbeknownst to many, has culminated in what we were all able to enjoy and learn from. I hope we can all take that lesson with us and continue to do the work we need to do behind the scenes to make the world a better place. Her example is an inspiration to everyone. May God raise her to an elevated position in heaven. 

- Donovan

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Donovan Morrell M.ASCE EI
Daytona Beach, FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-28-2026 05:55 PM
From: Christopher Seigel
Subject: Leadership Legacy: Lessons from Tirza

I completely agree Heidi - many people find themselves to be well-connected, and many people are "people-people".  But to be both and willingly make the effort to remember so much about so many, so that you can link them together is a skill that seems like it has to be rooted in a desire to help others. Tirza embodied that completely and many of us here are better off because of it. 

------------------------------
Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 07-23-2026 09:53 AM
From: Heidi Wallace
Subject: Leadership Legacy: Lessons from Tirza

Tirza truly embodied so many wonderful leadership qualities. One that I was always impressed by was her ability to create connections between other people. She had a gift for bringing people together who could help one another. In order to do that, she had to listen well, remember what people had told her over the years, and see their potential. 

As part of the Topic Moderators group she formed, I've had so many interesting conversations with people across age group, sectors of civil engineering, and countries. Most, if not all, of whom I would not have come in direct contact with otherwise. Now they are such an important part of my career.

At the MRLC this year, she connected me to Jennifer Lawrence, another ASCE staff member. Tirza knew I had talked about how much I enjoyed finding ASCE landmark plaques on vacations. She knew Jennifer is the staff contact for the History and Heritage Committee and was looking for a younger member to join the committee. Outside of Tirza's encouragement, I probably would not have looked into the possibility of participating in the committee.

Every space I know of that Tirza impacted was better off for it. I want to be that kind of force for good within my own sphere of influence. 

------------------------------
Heidi C. Wallace, P.E., M.ASCE
Tulsa, OK
------------------------------

Christopher – I had no idea about Tirza: 'her passing'. I assumed all along that she was still with us leading and managing this ASCE endeavor – called the ASCE Collaborate. I didn't see any communication on it – in the Collaborate pages and emails I receive nearly everyday.

She took the helm of this ASCE project – starting nearly at the beginning – expanded it, brought many of us in the community fold, making some of us prolific contributors. Her initiatives in proactive interactions helped many – I saw in communications that many benefited from her 'Resume Workshop'.

In replying to a discussion thread sometimes ago – I talked about my interactions with her – how she was instrumental in building the Collaborate. At one time, seeing no response to a thread I initiated – she suggested to change its title and repost.

And, I saw her face-to-face in a video conference On AI and Civil Engineering. She was young, as I thought she were. She is not only a good leader, but also a good moderator – listening to the talks intently and participating on key points – seeking clarification. The conference proceedings and more resulted in an article by Robert Reid: What do civil engineers need to know about artificial intelligence? November/December 2024 issue of Civil Engineering, as "CEs and AI: An Overview."

Whatever may be the cause of 'her passing' – ASCE Collaborate members would not forget her legacy. Respecting the privacy of her family and loved ones – I express my deep condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and loved ones. 

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Dr. Dilip K Barua, PhD

Website Links and Profile

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dilip, and I am sorry that it was this thread which provided you with the news. If you'd like, you can review the blog post that ASCE shared about Tirza here: https://collaborate.asce.org/blogs/tabitha-costello/2026/07/06/in-memory-of-tirza-austin#ItemCommentPanel

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Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-24-2026 12:41 PM
From: Dilip Barua
Subject: Leadership Legacy: Lessons from Tirza

Christopher – I had no idea about Tirza: 'her passing'. I assumed all along that she was still with us leading and managing this ASCE endeavor – called the ASCE Collaborate. I didn't see any communication on it – in the Collaborate pages and emails I receive nearly everyday.

She took the helm of this ASCE project – starting nearly at the beginning – expanded it, brought many of us in the community fold, making some of us prolific contributors. Her initiatives in proactive interactions helped many – I saw in communications that many benefited from her 'Resume Workshop'.

In replying to a discussion thread sometimes ago – I talked about my interactions with her – how she was instrumental in building the Collaborate. At one time, seeing no response to a thread I initiated – she suggested to change its title and repost.

And, I saw her face-to-face in a video conference On AI and Civil Engineering. She was young, as I thought she were. She is not only a good leader, but also a good moderator – listening to the talks intently and participating on key points – seeking clarification. The conference proceedings and more resulted in an article by Robert Reid: What do civil engineers need to know about artificial intelligence? November/December 2024 issue of Civil Engineering, as "CEs and AI: An Overview."

Whatever may be the cause of 'her passing' – ASCE Collaborate members would not forget her legacy. Respecting the privacy of her family and loved ones – I express my deep condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and loved ones. 

--------------------

Dr. Dilip K Barua, PhD

Website Links and Profile

Thanks again, Christopher – your reply clarifies why I have missed the info. I rarely check the Collaborate blog posts – it is my limitation. It is because of my own blog post articles and essays – editing, adding and creating new ones – that keep me quite occupied (interestingly my website is as old as the ASCE Collaborate – the product of a decade-long effort).

Appreciate that you posted the news on the Forum discussion page – a great service to the larger community who have missed it.

Going through the link you provided and reading the posts – tell one how Tirza touched everyone's heart with her dedication making difference in the way of building the community – opening an avenue to share one's thoughts, knowledge and experiences. It's no easy task.

And thinking of Pearl – brought tears to my eyes (I have two daughters and a son, grown up though, but parental love never fades).

Again with our thoughts and prayers remembering Tirza – love and best wishes to Pearl and the family.

--------------------

Dr. Dilip K Barua, PhD

Website Links and Profile

Original Message:
Sent: 07-28-2026 05:52 PM
From: Christopher Seigel
Subject: Leadership Legacy: Lessons from Tirza

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dilip, and I am sorry that it was this thread which provided you with the news. If you'd like, you can review the blog post that ASCE shared about Tirza here: https://collaborate.asce.org/blogs/tabitha-costello/2026/07/06/in-memory-of-tirza-austin#ItemCommentPanel

------------------------------
Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 07-24-2026 12:41 PM
From: Dilip Barua
Subject: Leadership Legacy: Lessons from Tirza

Christopher – I had no idea about Tirza: 'her passing'. I assumed all along that she was still with us leading and managing this ASCE endeavor – called the ASCE Collaborate. I didn't see any communication on it – in the Collaborate pages and emails I receive nearly everyday.

She took the helm of this ASCE project – starting nearly at the beginning – expanded it, brought many of us in the community fold, making some of us prolific contributors. Her initiatives in proactive interactions helped many – I saw in communications that many benefited from her 'Resume Workshop'.

In replying to a discussion thread sometimes ago – I talked about my interactions with her – how she was instrumental in building the Collaborate. At one time, seeing no response to a thread I initiated – she suggested to change its title and repost.

And, I saw her face-to-face in a video conference On AI and Civil Engineering. She was young, as I thought she were. She is not only a good leader, but also a good moderator – listening to the talks intently and participating on key points – seeking clarification. The conference proceedings and more resulted in an article by Robert Reid: What do civil engineers need to know about artificial intelligence? November/December 2024 issue of Civil Engineering, as "CEs and AI: An Overview."

Whatever may be the cause of 'her passing' – ASCE Collaborate members would not forget her legacy. Respecting the privacy of her family and loved ones – I express my deep condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and loved ones. 

--------------------

Dr. Dilip K Barua, PhD

Website Links and Profile

Personally, I am involved here, albeit it fairly infrequently, due to Tirza's encouragement.  She was an outstanding person.  I am thankful to have known her through ASCE.  

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Stacey Morris P.E., M.ASCE
ETI Corporation
West Memphis AR
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I admired the way Tirza attracted talent, built a team, motivated members to be their best, and led through others. And she did this repeatedly as members of the Collaborate Community Advocates team rolled in and out. My personal story of getting involved in the ASCE goes through Tirza. Tirza also had a huge amount of courage. No topic was off limits. It was just a case of couching the issue in an appropriate and objective manner. Admittedly, there was an occasional exception, but she was fearless. I miss her and will always keep her in my memory.

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Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
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When I became a member of the Society in 2019, I was mostly active in the Collaborate forums. Seeing my participation there, Tirza reached out to me by email and encouraged me to join the Collaborate volunteer team.

If I remember correctly, I was the only team member from outside the US at that time. Because of the time difference, I could only join one team call, yet that single meeting meant so much to me.

Tirza also guided me through the mentor matching process and always stayed in touch as I communicated with my ASCE mentor.

Even today all of my emails with Tirza are kept in a separate folder in my mailbox. She was a friend in a distant country and she always will be.

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[James] [Wang] [M.ASCE]
[Senior Cost Estimator]
[Turner & Townsend]
[Shenzhen] [China]
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