Karam Choudhary '21

Growing up in the metropolitan city of Karachi, Pakistan, Karam Choudhary was no stranger to the dilemmas associated with urban living.

“Karachi, which is one of the largest cities in the world, has many major problems, including transportation, urban planning, drainage, population, waste management system, environmental sustainability, air pollution and more,” says Choudhary. 

At a young age, she became curious about how she could solve these challenges on a larger scale to help enhance the quality of life for the people of Karachi. By high school, she leveraged her problem-solving skills in mathematics and physics classes and her fascination with building models through participation in engineering-focused competitions.

Choudhary soon realized that her desire to make a difference could be coupled with her passion for problem-solving and design. These interests led her to attend the NED University of Engineering and Technology to earn a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a Master of Engineering Management in Construction Project Management.

After starting her engineering career, her focus became growing her knowledge and drawing on her expertise to one day create solutions for Karachi’s critical infrastructure issues. With this in mind, she decided to pursue a second master’s degree to get closer to her goals.

“Being a civil engineer, I was looking for a comprehensive degree program that would complement my engineering background,” says Choudhary. “One with a course curriculum that covered information technology, business, project management, data science and cyber security, and Rider’s master’s in information systems program had it all.”

Choudhary then took the brave journey to leave her native Pakistan to travel to the U.S. to begin her studies. Though adjusting to life in the States wasn’t always easy, she leaned on various support resources from Rider to help ease her transition and turn her career dreams into reality.

Read the Q&A below to learn more about Choudhary’s journey and how Rider supported her path to success:

What are you doing now?

I work as a traffic engineer with WSP Global, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. In my role, I utilize traffic operational analysis to specify and design the placement of traffic signs, signals and pavement markings to guide and regulate traffic and ensure compliance with traffic control standards and regulations. 

On a larger scale, I contribute to the development of transportation plans and policies that address long-term urban development and regional transportation needs and collaborate with urban planners and policymakers to integrate transportation considerations into broader planning efforts. 

Additionally, I am involved in several research infrastructure development programs in Pakistan that create plans for highway rehabilitation. 

I also work with Lead The Nation.org as a U.S.-based mentor to students. I am very passionate about giving back to the community. Through this work, I can be the person I needed when I was a student to someone else. As a counselor, I mentor high school students, particularly young women, and provide support to help them in their careers and encourage them to join the field of engineering.

How did Rider resources positively impact your success as a student?

For a shy, introverted girl like me, studying abroad was initially intimidating because I was by myself with no family and friends. However, Rider’s Office of International Education and Center for Diversity and Inclusion provided me with a safe space and numerous opportunities to experience the overall cultural atmosphere at the University. Through their social and extracurricular activities, I grew as a professional, gained a global mindset, interacted with students from various cultural and religious backgrounds, and made friends from all over the world. 

Also, the Office of Career Development and Success prepared me for the industry. They improved my resume, gave me interview training and mentored and shaped me to be the best candidate for the job market before graduation. 

Before coming to the U.S., I had no connections and experienced culture shock. Attending career fairs and networking events at Rider helped me to reduce stress, increase my confidence, develop personal connections and improve soft skills.

What experiences did you have at Rider to help you prepare for where you are today?

Joining the Gail Bierenbaum Leadership Council (GBLC) allowed me to meet and be mentored by powerful women from the industry. Being a woman of color in a male-dominated industry can be challenging. However, the social events, leadership activities and lectures organized by the GBLC molded me into the strong woman and professional I always wanted to be.

As a graduate student, how did you benefit from participating in internships?

During my studies, I interned with the Department of Accounting at Rider as a data management assistant and as a project engineer with an engineering firm in New Jersey. I also had the opportunity to work on projects with the New Jersey and New York Department of Transportation and Turnpike Authority, where I made professional connections that later led me to attain a full-time job before graduation. 

Working in these internships allowed me to apply the knowledge and skills I learned in the classroom while gaining real-world experience and industry exposure, developing an understanding of corporate culture and building mentor relationships. 

What is the key takeaway from your Rider experience?

As soon as I became a Bronc, I knew I could achieve my American dream. Attending Rider allowed me to break down my dreams into specific, achievable goals and facilitated my roadmap for success. At Rider, I became the professional I always wanted to be. Studying here gave me a global perspective, improved my problem-solving skills and helped me to share my ideas more confidently. The MSIS degree prepared me to keep up with emerging technologies and IT knowledge. 

Today, I am one of the few U.S. engineers integrating technology with traditional civil engineering practices through my work. Doing this has inspired me to enter a Ph.D. program in information technology and concentrate in artificial intelligence, which I’m set to begin this fall at the University of the Cumberlands. My long-term goal is to make the U.S. transportation system more secure, efficient and intelligent by integrating information technology with transportation.

Words of advice to international students interested in attending Rider

You’ll make the best decision by coming to Rider. It’s a very open-minded, helpful, enjoyable and empowering community, especially for international students. 

Though the journey as an international student might be full of challenges, stay motivated and organized, and with careful planning and preparation, you can have a rewarding academic experience at Rider.