Barbara Scott

Upon graduation from Cheyenne Central High School, Barbara Scott was awarded a scholarship to attend Denver University in the architectural design division. She left D.U. after her freshman year to work at the Wyoming Highway Department. During the next eight years, when not working, she attended the University of Wyoming where she enrolled in civil engineering program with an architectural engineering option.

In 1969, after working as the first landscape engineer for the Wyoming Highway Department, she located proposed rest area sites and worked on new site designs. Two of the early newly designed sites were the Lincoln Monument rest area at the Summit between Laramie and Cheyenne, and the rest area at the Pine Bluffs interchange.

Barbara then left the highway department for the City of Cheyenne, and served as the planning engineer for the Model Cities Program. Following that program’s completion, she traveled to Texas where she was recruited by the Texas Highway Department District 12 to develop their environmental section. While in Texas she developed the Comprehensive Planning Course for Engineers. The course was submitted and she was given the opportunity to teach it, along with other courses while pursuing her master’s degree in engineering. By doing so, she has the honor of being the first woman to receive an M.S. in UW’s engineering program in addition to being the first woman instructor in the UW College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Barbara has many professional affiliations and as a member of the Society of Women Engineers she was designated Wyoming’s official delegate to the First International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists which was held in New York City. She is a life member in the American Society of Civil Engineers and member of the Engineering Honor Society Tau Beta Pi. She retired in 1988, carrying with her the distinction of being the first woman professional engineer to be employed for 26 years and retire from the Wyoming Highway Department.

After retirement, Barbara spent a year traveling the State of Wyoming, conducting a survey of certain commercial properties such as hotels, motels, restaurants, churches, and other public facilities to ensure compliance with the American Disabilities Act.

Congratulations to the 2009 College of Engineering and Applied Science Hall of Fame inductee and 2009 Distinguished Engineer.