By Nicole Guo, MSCE 2017

METRANS is proud to announce that Janell Goddard was recently hired by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (commonly known as LA Metro, or Metro) as a transportation associate. Goddard began attending METRANS events in Spring 2016 and has since earned her bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Biola University.

Goddard’s interests include multi-model transportation systems and sustainable development. At Metro, she will develop and write programs for transportation planning, while also managing, directing, and organizing planning activities. Her responsibilities also include writing requests for proposals (RFPs), managing consultant contracts, and developing scopes, budgets, and timelines for agency projects.

Goddard was introduced to the METRANS team through a business professor of hers who knew of her interest in planning.

“It could not have been better timing for joining METRANS, as I suddenly had a lot more free time with school work slowing down, and began to feel more burdened to make long-term plans beyond finishing my degree,” Goddard shared. “METRANS student programing provided me with the opportunity to volunteer at conferences and events within the transportation industry, and also referred me to numerous research presentations and printed material speaking to urbanization concerns. These resources enabled me to immerse myself in transportation's most current developments, and helped me to engage with the field in a much more tangible, personal way than I was able to while studying full-time.”

“We were thrilled to welcome Janell to the METRANS family, and could not be more pleased with the outcome,” shared METRANS Associated Director, Victoria Deguzman, who developed and heads up the METRANS student enrichment and professional development programs.  “We see a very bright future for her!”

Goddard’s advice to other students on the job hunt is to network and attend related activities; keep searching and applying. “I saw the job listing for my current position in METRANS' newsletter, so I also have this group to thank for my job. The people I've met and experiences I've had by getting involved have been a huge encouragement to me both personally and professionally.”

All of us at METRANS wish Goddard success at her new job and for all such endeavors to come.

Nicole Guo

Nicole (Haichao) Guo is a second-year graduate student majoring in transportation engineering at the University of Southern California. Her interests are Intelligent Transportation Systems, Transportation modeling, Highway Design, and Rail. She is also an active student member of WTS-Los Angeles, where she volunteers regularly. She can be reached at [email protected].