Class of 2026: Emma Kate Maxwell establishes a home through leadership in construction
Name: Emma Kate Maxwell
College: College of Engineering
Major: Construction Engineering and Management
Hometown: Staunton, Virginia
Plans after graduation: Earning an accelerated master’s degree in the building construction and science management program, after which she’ll pursue a career in multifamily construction.
Favorite Hokie memory: “I had the ability to travel to New York City with Building Women in Construction to attend the Groundbreaking Women in Construction conference. It was a great experience to travel and represent Virginia Tech while also growing individually for our student organization.”
As the outstanding senior in construction engineering and management, part of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction (MLSoC), Emma Kate Maxwell chose Virginia Tech because it felt like home.
That feeling of home is also why she chose construction engineering and management (CEM), after initially majoring in civil engineering. CEM offered a family-like environment and endless opportunities. Maxwell liked that the major allowed her to make personal connections with professors, peers, and future employers through many of the activities outside of the classroom.
As a student ambassador for the CEM program, she served as a resource to incoming and existing students by offering advice about CEM.
“Connecting my story to help guide younger students has been incredibly rewarding as an ambassador,” she said. “Reconnecting with some of those students later in our major-specific courses continually reinforces the strength of the MLSoC environment.”
Growing behind the scenes
Throughout her time in the program, Maxwell has been a standout student, working as an undergraduate teaching assistant in both building construction and CEM classes.
Assistant Professor of Practice Jonathan Bluey remembered why he was so impressed with Maxwell as a student in his Integrated Construction II class that he hired her to come back as an undergraduate teaching assistant the following year. “At the end of each semester, I present an individual award titled the Thinking Human Award,” he said. “As the name suggests, this award recognizes a student who demonstrates intellectual curiosity, initiative, and thoughtful engagement. Emma Kate stood out above and beyond the 130+ students in the course for her willingness to ask insightful questions and independently seek out answers. She consistently balanced humility and confidence, offering her own ideas while remaining open to feedback and direction.”
This spring, Maxwell worked closely with faculty to produce a technical field guide for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that will be used in the Integrated Construction II course and may ultimately help workers on job sites.
“Through this work, I have developed an even deeper passion for the construction industry,” Maxwell said.
Where leadership breaks ground
Beyond the classroom, Maxwell found her place in the Building Women in Construction organization, becoming the chapter president in 2025. During her tenure as president, Maxwell helped increase membership and expanded their reach to national organizations like the National Association of Women in Construction.
“I have watched, and helped, transform this club from several separate entities into a cohesive, supportive environment for students of all class years, focused on both industry engagement and meaningful connections,” Maxwell said.
In the fall of 2025, Emma Kate Maxwell started working as an administrative events intern alongside the alumni relations and events manager in MLSoC. In this role, Maxwell collaborated closely with alumni and industry partners, which helped strengthen her networking abilities and professional presence.
To maintain balance and focus on well-being, Maxwell also plays on the construction engineering and management team in the College of Engineering rec volleyball league. “This has been a great way to meet younger students and has strengthened the family-like atmosphere within our program, even outside of MLSoC.”
Emma Kate Maxwell reflected on her plans after graduation, "I chose the accelerated master’s program because it tied in very well with my current course load as an undergraduate student, and it fostered a great curriculum for expanding my technical knowledge and leadership skills. I'm hoping for this to help guide me as I prepare to enter the industry and help me do so with confidence based on the strength of the programs I've been in thus far."
