Engineering News, January 23, 2006

January 23, 2006 Vol. 77, no. 2S

ENGINEERING A CAREER: Charlotte Rodeen-Dickert poses with Oski. “I love design,” she says. “I love explaining and communicating it to other people.” (Rachel Shafer Photo)

Real World Engineering: ME alumna takes the untraditional path and finds her own way

“I’m not the person on the bench who’s doing the designing. I’m not the one at three in morning crunching numbers. I’m the one who can help you explain your ideas to other people,” says Charlotte Rodeen-Dickert (B.S.’93 ME). “When I see a really cool design, I know how to get it out there.”

Rodeen-Dickert is a patent attorney. But, as a student, she never dreamed of being a lawyer and would have scoffed at the idea. Back then, she knew she would earn a Ph.D. in biomechanics. In a pivotal moment during senior year, though, she didn’t get into graduate school.

Life went on. She fell into a tutoring gig, which kindled an interest in teaching, which then led to a job teaching high school math and physics for six years. On the side, she did technical writing and eventually parlayed that into a job at UC’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). Using her teaching experience, technical knowledge and writing skills, she penned one-page marketing descriptions of inventions and, with the encouragement of her co-workers, learned more about patents and licensing. The light bulb clicked. She continued to work at OTT and attended law school at night.

Now she works for a small law firm and telecommutes, which is ideal because she and her husband are expecting yet another career change: parenting.

“I finally realized that I loved certain parts of engineering, but I didn’t fit the classic engineering stereotype,” she says. “It wasn’t me. It took me all these years, but I learned it’s really about the skills you get from each job experience. That’s the whole package you take with you — and it’s gotten me where I am today.”

Come see Rodeen-Dickert and other alumni panelists at Real World Engineering on Thursday, February 2, at 4:15 p.m. in Bechtel Engineering Center.

It’s not just another career event
A personal note from your editor

Real World Engineering is on February 2, and you should really go. Why? Not just to graze on free food (mmm, sushi) or network (more than 50 alumni). Whether you’re a sophomore or a senior, you’ll find it incredibly useful to hear from real, practicing Berkeley engineers in your interest area. There isn’t another event like it. Graduate school versus industry? Start up versus established company? Interview tips? Maintaining interest in a field? Ask the question that’s been on your mind. It’s comforting to hear from people who’ve forged a path ahead of you.

The event begins at 4:15 p.m. in Bechtel Engineering Center. There will be eight panels focusing on BioE, CEE, CS, ChemE, EE, IEOR, ME and MSE/NE and three additional panels covering other career topics. Discussions and networking will continue at the sushi reception afterward. Don’t miss it!

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