Hi-Line Living: Northern in growing field of women in tech programs

"Before I came to Northern, the guys I went to school with said I'd never make it, and now here I am in a diesel program and an auto program," Montana State University-Northern diesel technology freshman Mariah Brekke said. "My main reason I wanted to go into the diesel industry was to show the guys and my family that I could do it and so I could fix my truck if something were to happen."

Brekke is one of about 20 women in Northern's Diesel Technology Program out of 180 total, she said.

 "I think that being outnumbered makes it more complicated, but the guys here definitely involve you in diesel and it really feels like you're one of the guys," she added. "You got to set your ground when you come in and have a tough attitude and be confident and stand your ground."

She said, after she graduates, she wants to be able to open her own shop in western Montana, mainly for engine rebuilds and common services.

According to alltrucking.com, Northern is one of three schools in the state of Montana to have a diesel technology program and one of 279 in the United States.

But it is more unique with its four-year programs, something of a rarity.

Northern's Diesel Technology Program has a variety of offerings such as a four-year Bachelor of Science degree which can include broadfield, equipment management and field maintenance options, as well a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree and a minor and certificates. 

"Diesel technology encompasses a lot of different systems, the way we teach our classes along the lines of systems," College of Technical Sciences Chair Steven Don said, "so we have a fuel systems class, we have an engines class, we have a jars class, etc. At the end of the day, all those systems come together with a $5.2 million caterpillar truck or half-million dollar combine or a diesel pickup or whatever."

He said Northern is nationally recognized as one of the top schools in its diesel program as well as accredited through Association of Equipment Distributors.

Association of Equipment Distributors is an international trade association representing companies involved in the distribution, rental and support of equipment used in construction, mining, forestry, power generation, agriculture and industrial applications, says its website.

Don added that, in the program, the word mechanic is no longer used to describe the title work in the program.

"We use 'technicians' because they are going to be doing a lot of diagnosing with a laptop computer before they start turning a wrench," Don said, "so they have to use their brains before they start using their muscle." 

The program has employers from all over the region, the state and the nation recruiting Northern's diesel students, he said.

 Since he attended Northern in the early '90s, he said, the numbers have grown quite a bit with an increase of female students.

"We have grown a lot and we are continuing to grow. We are getting more and more young ladies interested in the program to continue it as a career," he said. "When I was going to school there were no young ladies, it just wasn't a thing."

With the barrier continuing to be broken to what once was a male-dominated field, he said, he feels really good about it and wishes he had more female students in the program.

"The thing with young ladies, and I'm not being sexist here, but the thing with females is that they are a lot more detail-oriented," Don said.

"I think this program is really great for women because we do have a different side of work than men, we do the same work, but we may notice details, get things done a bit differently," Northern diesel technology junior Erika Anderson said, "so I think it's really complementary for us in the program as well as the men."

She said she chose this program because diesel has always been interesting to her.

Northern diesel technology freshman Janissa Stiles said she chose this program because she is super-independent and would rather do something herself instead of rely on a shop.

"It's something I find interesting, I think it's interesting how motors work and learning how to work on them, and keep them going instead of having to rely on someone else to do it," she said.

The school has a lot to offer, a lot of things they can show and teach the students, Stiles said, adding that the program does well to keep up-to-date on the newer technology, which is what it is about now.

"It's really not mechanizing anymore, it is more technology, and just all the co-ops they have to offer, there is a lot of great opportunities they can give us to get going into the career, " she said.

And, she said, no reason exists for women not to enter these fields.

"Why treat somebody different because of their sex?" Stiles said.

Sophomore Taylar Watz said her father has been involved in mechanic work her whole life.

"My dad has been a mechanic my entire life and I was raised around semis, so I wanted to be a mechanic, but I wanted to work on semis," she said.

Others chose this field because of the hands-on opportunity it offers.

"I just like the hands-on part more than sitting in class staring at a book more," sophomore Kaylee Nystrom said.

Post-graduate Breck Don, Steven Don's daughter, graduated in May 2019 from the Northern Diesel Technology Program along with a business administration degree.

She said she works at Kiewit in Colorado as an equipment manager.

"Northern's program prepared me for my current role by giving me a basic understanding of equipment - such as engines, hydraulics, electrical, etc. - which has in turn made it easier to order the necessary parts and supplies to repair equipment and keep the machine running for production," she said. "It provided me with the technical knowledge that I need to complete my day-to-day tasks. The program also taught me how to be an effective communicator, importance of scheduling and professionalism."

She added that the program also taught her discipline, perseverance, teamwork and hard work and also taught her to have fun and get to know their classmates. 

In her current position, Don said, everyone she works with is accepting of women in a predominantly male industry and even helps promote introducing more women to the industry.

She said construction can be very labor-intensive and having a small physique would probably be her biggest setback. 

  Some pros she sees for women in her profession are job security, women tend to be more detail-oriented, approachable and employees feel comfortable talking to her or asking for help.

"I would encourage women to go into this field by being bold and trying something different. You never know what you are capable of until you try it. Just because diesel technology is commonly viewed as a male-only field doesn't mean women can't do it as well," Don said. "There's also a variety of options when it comes to career paths. Diesel technology doesn't just equate to turning wrenches forever, unless you want to. Don't let the fear of failing hold you back. Take the challenges and obstacles as an opportunity to learn and grow. "