Arly Perez-Morales, shown in the Civil Engineering Materials Laboratory in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Photo by Angela Foster.
Arly Perez-Morales is navigating uncharted waters—and redefining what’s possible along the way.
Perez-Morales, a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is a first-generation college student pursuing civil engineering—a field historically underrepresented among women and Hispanic/Latinx professionals.
With a desire to make a difference, Perez-Morales’ first-gen story reflects the purpose and the importance of family support.
“My parents were born in Guatemala, and they came here around their 20s,” said Perez-Morales, a 2022 graduate of nearby Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy. “They’ve just tried to build a better future for us because they came from a tough background in Guatemala where there weren’t many available jobs.”
She said being the first in her family to attend college has been “challenging but also very rewarding.”
“My parents are always very supportive and they’re always proud of my achievements,” she said. “But there’s a side where I get lost sometimes or I’m not sure how to take on classes or just develop my career because— since I’m the first—no one else in my family has gone through this.
“But it’s also very rewarding … just having their support and knowing that I can always just lean back on them and know that they’re always cheering me on.”
Motivated by her parents’ sacrifices and a love for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, Perez-Morales said she was immediately drawn by the challenge of civil engineering “because I know civil engineering doesn’t really have women in the field.”
“I always like being hands-on,” she said, “and I was hoping to get into a diverse field where I could work outside but also be able to work in the office—so I could either work with stormwater or structural or transportation or anything that I’m aiming for.”
According to a Data USA study of the 2022 U.S. workforce, around 17.1% of civil engineers in the U.S. are female—and 11.3% of civil engineers are Hispanic/Latinx.
Those percentages won’t be changing drastically anytime soon. The website reported only 14.3% of civil engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded for 2021-2022 went to Hispanic women.
Arly Perez-Morales
Perez-Morales’ ambition is not just to succeed but to have a lasting impact. At UTC, she has become a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers, as well as a College of Engineering and Computer Science student ambassador. She has also landed an internship with Arcadis—a leading global design and engineering consultancy firm—where her work focuses on developing sustainable stormwater solutions.
“I want to be able to change the community, whether that be with stormwater like I’m doing right now or working on roadways,” she explained. “Just being able to make a difference out in the world so that people can actually see that.”
Stormwater research involves working on solutions for stormwater runoff, a critical issue in urban areas where water fails to absorb into the ground—carrying pollutants to rivers and lakes.
Her professors quickly noticed Perez-Morales’ potential.
Dr. Jejal-Reddy Bathi, assistant professor of civil engineering and environmental engineering coordinator, recognized her passion for leadership and community impact. He recommended her for the Dr. Roberto S. Benson Cultural Value Leadership Scholarship offered by the Cultural Value Leadership Institute (CVLI)—a local organization founded by Dr. Veronica Herrera to develop leadership skills in historically underserved students.
“Arly is an exceptional student,” Bathi said. “She expressed her interest in working in civil engineering and staying in a leadership role. I observed her traits of extraordinary work in class, maintaining a high GPA and paying attention to the details.
“When I learned about this institution led by Dr. Herrera and building leadership in the community, it was very satisfying to recommend her for the scholarship. At UTC, especially in civil engineering, we are thriving with bright students, connecting them to the community and making a difference.”
Benson, the scholarship’s namesake, retired as a professor emeritus from UT Knoxville in 2018 after 32 years as a member of the university’s engineering faculty. He also served as a host parent to Herrera and her sister when they came to the U.S. for college.
“I call him my American dad because his family took us and many international students in for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We spent the holidays in their home, so today they’re like my family,” said Herrera, a native of Venezuela who earned two bachelor’s degrees from UT Knoxville. She later moved to Chattanooga and received a Master of Education degree from UTC in 2011.
Shortly after Benson passed away at the age of 81 in 2022, coinciding with initial thoughts of launching CVLI, Herrera contacted his family.
“I wanted to do something nice and begin this scholarship,” she recalled, “and that was the first thing we had in mind when we finally got the 501(c)(3) back to go ahead with the Cultural Value Leadership Institute.”
Ann Cater, left, and Dr. Veronica Herrera, right, recently presented Arly Perez-Morales with the Dr. Roberto S. Benson Cultural Value Leadership Scholarship (photo courtesy of Dr. Veronica Herrera).
The CVLI aims to cultivate leadership skills by drawing on the distinct cultural strengths and backgrounds of individuals. It encourages participants to harness elements such as linguistic diversity, traditions and historical experiences as tools for leadership and innovation. This approach empowers individuals to embrace and integrate both personal and community cultural influences into their leadership practices, fostering social impact and meaningful change.
“The point is to use culture as an asset in economic development and social innovation. That is the whole purpose of this: for people to have a solid platform to lead,” said Herrera, who—in addition to her work as executive director of the CVLI—is a language teacher at McCallie School.
The goal, she said, was to award the Roberto S. Benson Cultural Value Scholarship to “somebody with tremendous potential to make this community better.”
Herrera recently was accompanied by one of her mentors, Ann Cater, in presenting the scholarship to Perez-Morales at an event hosted by the Chattanooga Public Library.
“We are thrilled to have Arly as the first representative,” Herrera said. “The idea that this person is a first-generation college student, we really had not put that into the equation. So it is wonderful.
“I’m honored to realize how this opportunity broadens the potential for recognizing and connecting with a network of individuals who are committed to leadership growth, using their culture as a tool for their growth.”
Herrera was also proud to point out that Perez-Morales is already creating a ripple effect within her family. Arly’s sister, Esmeralda—inspired by her achievements—is now a first-year student at Chattanooga State Community College.
“Not only is she somebody that we admire for what she’s doing,” Herrera said, “but she’s really a trailblazer for other CGLA graduates and for people in her family.”
Perez-Morales, the third-oldest of seven siblings, shared how meaningful it feels to begin building her family’s legacy.
“I’m honored to be able to guide my sister, who started college this semester,” Perez-Morales said. “She came to me with questions about applying for scholarships, what college will be like, the experiences.”
When asked about the three siblings younger than Esmeralda, Perez-Morales flashed a big smile.
“They’re all planning on going to college, too.”
Learn more
First Gen Week: Celebrate what it means to be a first-generation student at UTC
“I want to be able to change the community, whether that be with stormwater like I’m doing right now or working on roadways,” civil engineering major Arly Perez-Morales said. “Just being able to make a difference out in the world so that people can actually see that.”
