Michelle E. Motchos is a senior structural engineer in the South Carolina office of Stevens & Wilkinson, where she has been employed since 1997. She was named an associate of the firm in 2002. Stevens & Wilkinson, established in 1919, is a full service architecture, engineering and interior design firm with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina.



As a senior structural engineer, Michelle is responsible for gravity and lateral design building framing, foundations and lateral resistance elements, the development and coordination of structural drawings, and specifications for projects from schematic level through final design and construction administration.



Michelle received her undergraduate and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Virginia Tech in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Her master’s degree area of concentration was structural engineering and her committee members were professors Tom Murray, Siegfried Holzer and Tom Cousins. She obtained her Professional Engineers License in 2001 in South Carolina.



“I was helped in getting the opportunity to work at Stevens & Wilkinson due to their satisfaction with another Virginia Tech graduate, Emmett Sumner, whose technical skills and eternal patience made him an ideal mentor. I frequently meet people in the industry who are either Virginia Tech graduates or who are familiar with the research done by the professors in civil engineering, so both the reputation of the school and the education received there are great assets for graduates,” said Michelle.



Michelle has been responsible as a project structural engineer for 13 major projects that averaged 180,000 square feet and $17 million each, including the Columbia Convention Center, Clemson University Fike Wellness Center addition, Mathew J. Perry Federal Courthouse and parking garage, and portions of the University of South Carolina (USC) Sports Arena.



She is currently working on several projects that are under design, such as the Eau Claire High School theater and gymnasium additions, Northwood Middle School, the USC VA Building #3 Medical School renovations and the College of Charleston-Simons Art School additions and renovation. “After watching designs I have had a hand in creating come up from the ground and finish as things that improve people’s lives, I still can’t imaging doing anything more challenging or rewarding,” Michelle said.



Michelle has continued her professional and civic activities since graduation. She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), National Society of Professional Engineers, American Concrete Institute and the American Institute of Steel Construction. The Columbia Chapter of the South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers has honored Michelle twice in the last three years as Young Engineer of the Year and she has served as an officer in the organization for three years. She also participates in the Columbia Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.



In college, Michelle was a member of Chi Epsilon and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, and participated in the student chapter of ASCE, serving as vice-president from 1995-96. She was a member of the Steel Bridge Team from 1993-96 and served as vice president for two years. Michelle was a team leader and mentor for the Women in Engineering Support Team program and was on the Dean’s List in 1995 and 1996.



In her community, Michelle volunteers with the Mathcounts program, Habitat for Humanity and the Palmetto Parrotheads, a social organization that raises funds for local charities. She also volunteers to mentor “shadow” students from local schools. This is a program in which a high school student spends the day at work with a professional to get exposure to different careers before making college plans.



“Certainly Michelle is the type of individual that shines a very bright light on the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and one that I believe is very worthy of being honored with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award,” said Sam Easterling, professor and assistant department head of CEE, who nominated Michelle for this award.



On a personal note, Michelle is engaged to another structural engineer from Virginia Tech, Steve Nanney, whom she met while in college. In their leisure time, Michelle and Steve enjoy traveling, hiking and their newest diversion – learning to ride motorcycles.



“I have been very fortunate in the friends I made in college, from my roommate, Kristine Clark (Lumadue), who gave me encouragement as a fellow female in civil engineering, to both my fianc. and another fellow structural engineer, Brian Diaz, who have given me support and guidance over the past nine years,” Michelle said.