Staff Spotlight: Alex Oliva

Women earn only about one-fifth of the engineering degrees awarded by universities each year in the United States, according to data from the National Science Foundation. Cultivating an interest in engineering at a much earlier age is often touted as an effective way to bridge the gender gap. That’s how it worked for Alex Oliva, the only female building service engineer (BSE) on the CSUDH campus and one of the few across the entire CSU system.

“I’ve always loved working with my hands and figuring out how things work,” says the 30-year-old Oliva, the eldest of three daughters. “My dad told all of us growing up that we should never have to rely on a man to do things for us. So, I was changing the oil and replacing the brakes on our family cars by the age of eight.”

What’s it like as the only female engineer at Central Plant? Oliva says it’s been surprisingly easy. “When I first got here, I could tell the guys didn’t quite know what to make of the situation, but they quickly adjusted and in no time were treating me like one of the team and welcomed me with open arms,” she says. “I’m a pretty chill person with a good sense of humor. That helps keep things from getting awkward. But at the end of the day, we’re here to serve the campus community, and the whole Central Plant team respects hard work and dedication, regardless of who you are.”

Oliva was selected in 2019 to take part in an innovative apprenticeship program funded by a grant from the CSU Chancellor’s Office. Working full time at Central Plant, she also attended Los Angeles Trade-Technical College for classes on industrial HVAC and electrical systems. “It was the first time I ever showed any real interest in school,” she says. “I’d taken a few courses at Harbor College and El Camino College because I thought I wanted to be an EMT, but I always ended up losing interest.”

In December 2023, Oliva completed the 7,200 hours required to receive her journeyman’s certificate and became a permanent employee of CSUDH. “I came into this program knowing next to nothing, but I was willing to learn and wanted to start moving toward a real career,” she says. “It’s been a lot of work balancing the classes with a full-time schedule on campus, and there’s been a lot to learn every day, but I’ve loved every part of it, and now I’m glad to be a permanent employee.”

A typical day for Oliva involves keeping a close eye on the Central Plant’s automated climate and energy system controls to ensure that students, faculty, and staff can work in a comfortable and safe environment. “We can monitor air quality conditions and temperature in every space on campus and can respond quickly if we find a problem,” she says. “Maintaining consistent temperatures isn’t just a matter of personal comfort. It protects all the computer systems and servers across campus.”

After four years on campus, Oliva says she’s gotten used to the surprised expressions when students or other staff members see her in a classroom making adjustments to the thermostat or sticking my head in the ceilings. “Some of the other women on campus tell me it’s good to see a woman working in such a male-dominated department on campus,” she says. “Most of the time, though, people don’t say anything at all. But the look in their eyes tells me they weren’t expecting a five-foot-tall woman to show up carrying a 12-foot-ladder,” she says.

Oliva credits Kenny Seeton, manager of the Central Plant, for creating a work environment that brings out the best in all the BSE staff. “Ken’s the kind of person that pushes you to get better at whatever you’re doing,” she says. “He’s always looking for more efficient ways for us to operate, and he’s always so busy. Everybody always wants the opportunity to network with him. Even though he’s so busy, he makes time for us, to check on how we’re doing or to teach us something new.”

Outside of work, Oliva says she’s still as curious about how things work as she was during her childhood, when she used to take apart her PlayStation or desktop computer just to see if they would still work when she put them back together. She also enjoys playing Call of Duty on PlayStation in her spare time.

Oliva inherited an unusual pet—a desert tortoise named Monster. “He used to belong to my uncle, but I took him in after my uncle died,” Oliva says. “I found out after a recent vet appointment that Monster’s a lot older than I originally thought—between 25 and 30 years old. They can live up to 80 years.”

At CSUDH, Oliva says she’s found the kind of career she always hoped for—one that appealed to her interests and strengths, and that gave her plenty of opportunities to grow. “I’m so grateful to the whole Central Plant team for helping me and guiding me on this journey. Ken pushes all of the BSEs really hard, but I know that it’s because he wants us to be successful,” she says.

“I want to continue learning more about the automated systems here and how to make them more efficient. Then, maybe one day, I’ll know more than Ken,” Oliva adds with a smile.