Dr. BellandDr. Bellandra Foster EEW Magaznera Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW Magazne
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr.
Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW
MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster
EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra
Foster EEW MagazneDr. Bellandra Foster EEW Magazne
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Dr. Bellandra Foster: An Empowered Woman Succeeding in 'A Man's World'
by EEW Editorial Staff
Who says black women can’t excel in the engineering field? Lots of people do. But that myth is being busted up by Dr.
Bellandra Foster.
Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering, is a book-length study
published last month by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The study was conducted by a committee appointed by the
NAS, along with the National Academy of Engineering, and it concludes that women's under-performance in academic
science and engineering relative to men is caused not by any innate differences between men and women but by subtle
biases, and by barriers in the form of refusing to make science jobs more "woman friendly."
(The study is available online at http://darwin.nap.edu/books/0309100429/html/R7.html)
Woman-friendly or not, Dr. Foster is an engineering force to be reckoned with.
by EEW Editorial Staff
Who says black women can’t excel in the engineering field? Lots of people do. But that myth is being busted up by Dr.
Bellandra Foster.
Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering, is a book-length study
published last month by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The study was conducted by a committee appointed by the
NAS, along with the National Academy of Engineering, and it concludes that women's under-performance in academic
science and engineering relative to men is caused not by any innate differences between men and women but by subtle
biases, and by barriers in the form of refusing to make science jobs more "woman friendly."
(The study is available online at http://darwin.nap.edu/books/0309100429/html/R7.html)
Woman-friendly or not, Dr. Foster is an engineering force to be reckoned with.
|
TM & © 2008 Empowering Everyday Women Online Magazine All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy
EEW Magazine is a division of Hobbs Ministries, a Subsidiary of Training for Reigning Inc.
EEW Magazine is a division of Hobbs Ministries, a Subsidiary of Training for Reigning Inc.
Congratulations!!
Dr. Bellandra Foster Ph.D., P.E.
In November 2007, EEW Magazine began its search for an inspirational story to help
motivate you to be your best in 2008! Well, one woman was chosen from 233
respondents. It was a tough decision, but only one special story could be chosen as
this month’s feature.
…Our thanks to all of you who took time to share your story with us.
If you’ve ever aspired to do or be something that others thought you could never do or
be, this story will motivate you. If you’ve been rejected, pushed aside, and passed over,
this article will uplift you. As you read it, remind yourself that anything is possible!
Dr. Bellandra Foster Ph.D., P.E.
In November 2007, EEW Magazine began its search for an inspirational story to help
motivate you to be your best in 2008! Well, one woman was chosen from 233
respondents. It was a tough decision, but only one special story could be chosen as
this month’s feature.
…Our thanks to all of you who took time to share your story with us.
If you’ve ever aspired to do or be something that others thought you could never do or
be, this story will motivate you. If you’ve been rejected, pushed aside, and passed over,
this article will uplift you. As you read it, remind yourself that anything is possible!
|
Her journey began in the early 1970’s, less than a decade removed
from the end of the civil rights movement.
Bellandra Benefield was an ambitious African American student
who took a liking to math and science—subjects that many girls
didn’t focus much on during that era. With the blessing of her
parents, the late Dr. George and Ella Pearl Benefield, Bellandra set
out on a path that would ultimately lead to her divine destiny.
At the time, Bellandra had no way of knowing that she would grow
up to earn a Doctorate in Civil Engineering from Michigan State
University; or that, at age 46, she would be the President and
principal engineer of BBF Engineering Services— a civil and
transportation engineering consulting firm with a staff of 12, and
revenues in the millions; or that she would be profiled in Essence,
Black Enterprise, Jet, and other respected publications for her
achievements.
from the end of the civil rights movement.
Bellandra Benefield was an ambitious African American student
who took a liking to math and science—subjects that many girls
didn’t focus much on during that era. With the blessing of her
parents, the late Dr. George and Ella Pearl Benefield, Bellandra set
out on a path that would ultimately lead to her divine destiny.
At the time, Bellandra had no way of knowing that she would grow
up to earn a Doctorate in Civil Engineering from Michigan State
University; or that, at age 46, she would be the President and
principal engineer of BBF Engineering Services— a civil and
transportation engineering consulting firm with a staff of 12, and
revenues in the millions; or that she would be profiled in Essence,
Black Enterprise, Jet, and other respected publications for her
achievements.
Though she was bright and motivated, none of her accomplishments would come without hardship, struggle, and adversity—
not just in business, but also personally…
Bellandra tells EEW Magazine, “My mother and many of my family members were plagued with a family curse much of their
lives—the mental illness of paranoid schizophrenia.” A rare mental disease that plagues over 2 million Americans loomed like
a dark cloud over her family. It wasn’t easy to watch the ones she loved, struggle and fight through this incurable mental
impairment. Thankfully, the disease passed over Dr. Foster and she continued her education.
As things began looking up in her life, suddenly, tragedy struck…
In 1982, just a year shy of launching her career as a structural engineer, Dr. Foster’s only brother was murdered at the age of
32. Her family was devastated by the loss. How could such an awful thing happen? How would they make sense of it all? How
could they pick up the pieces and continue on?
Though the tragedy took an emotional toll, Dr. Foster knew she couldn’t stop. Through prayer, determination, and resolve, she
successfully earned her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering.
For a decade, 1983 to 1993, she flourished in her career in the engineering field. But the time soon came to make a change.
That’s when in 1994, with a meager budget acquired from personal savings, Dr. Foster launched her engineering consulting
firm, BBF Engineering Services.
She started from scratch with no idea about the impending uphill battle she would face…
not just in business, but also personally…
Bellandra tells EEW Magazine, “My mother and many of my family members were plagued with a family curse much of their
lives—the mental illness of paranoid schizophrenia.” A rare mental disease that plagues over 2 million Americans loomed like
a dark cloud over her family. It wasn’t easy to watch the ones she loved, struggle and fight through this incurable mental
impairment. Thankfully, the disease passed over Dr. Foster and she continued her education.
As things began looking up in her life, suddenly, tragedy struck…
In 1982, just a year shy of launching her career as a structural engineer, Dr. Foster’s only brother was murdered at the age of
32. Her family was devastated by the loss. How could such an awful thing happen? How would they make sense of it all? How
could they pick up the pieces and continue on?
Though the tragedy took an emotional toll, Dr. Foster knew she couldn’t stop. Through prayer, determination, and resolve, she
successfully earned her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering.
For a decade, 1983 to 1993, she flourished in her career in the engineering field. But the time soon came to make a change.
That’s when in 1994, with a meager budget acquired from personal savings, Dr. Foster launched her engineering consulting
firm, BBF Engineering Services.
She started from scratch with no idea about the impending uphill battle she would face…
It's a Man's World...
Civil engineering is considered one of the oldest engineering disciplines, and is a heavily male-
dominated industry. The lyrics to the 1967 hit song by the late James Brown— 'It’s a Man’s World,'
couldn’t ring any truer in the engineering field where minorities are grossly under-represented.
“My most difficult struggle has been dealing with the ‘old boys’ network in the consulting and
engineering business,” Dr. Foster admits. “It has been quite challenging being one of few black
female licensed engineers in the country, who maintains sole ownership of an engineering firm.”
Civil engineering is considered one of the oldest engineering disciplines, and is a heavily male-
dominated industry. The lyrics to the 1967 hit song by the late James Brown— 'It’s a Man’s World,'
couldn’t ring any truer in the engineering field where minorities are grossly under-represented.
“My most difficult struggle has been dealing with the ‘old boys’ network in the consulting and
engineering business,” Dr. Foster admits. “It has been quite challenging being one of few black
female licensed engineers in the country, who maintains sole ownership of an engineering firm.”
advertisement
Photo Credit: Bilyend Schaeveu