When Rossana D’Antonio graduated from Fresno State in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, she was one of only two females in the program’s graduating class.
Today, the Lyles College of Engineering is celebrating its highest enrollment to date with over 1,900 students, including 425 civil engineering students (nearly 24% who identify as female). It’s progress D’Antonio has championed in her profession for the past three decades.
She will speak about this and her successful career in civil engineering from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17 at the Industrial Tech building (Room 160) at Fresno State. This is part of three-days of discussions she will host on campus from Nov. 17 through 19 as the inaugural presenter in the Lyles College of Engineering’s new Leader in Residence program.
“When you arrive somewhere, especially if you are the first of many, it’s your responsibility to pay it forward. That’s why I’m deeply committed to advocating for women,” D’Antonio said. “I want to empower them to compete, to sharpen their skills and to step forward with confidence. So, when their moment comes in a traditionally male-led profession, they’ll be ready to rise.”
The proud daughter of immigrants, D’Antonio was born in Los Angeles and spent part of her formative years in her mother’s homeland of El Salvador, where she completed high school at the American School. Guided by her parents’ unwavering belief in the power of education, D’Antonio returned to the U.S. to attend community college in L.A., then transferred to the University of Miami, and finally arrived at Fresno State where she found her home away from home.
D’Antonio began her academic journey exploring architecture and later architectural engineering, but it was civil engineering that ultimately resonated with her. Analytical and a problem solver by nature, she felt a deep connection to the discipline and credits Fresno State for helping her find that passion.
“I’m deeply grateful to Fresno State because, at a time when I felt a bit lost, I found a supportive community – a top-tier engineering program and wonderful professors who genuinely cared about my growth,” D’Antonio said. “They encouraged me to approach engineering with curiosity and gave me the confidence to believe in myself. That’s where I discovered the beauty and purpose of civil engineering.”
Making a meaningful impact
That newfound confidence propelled D’Antonio into a distinguished 33-year career at Los Angeles County Public Works, where she ultimately served as deputy director overseeing infrastructure and municipal services needs for more than 10 million residents. She began her journey in 1990 in an entry-level role and steadily advanced through the organization, gaining expertise across multiple departments and building the leadership foundation that would guide her to the top.
As the deputy director, she led the department’s work in areas related to design, geotechnical engineering, public contracting, asset management, municipal services and emergency management. During her time at the organization, D’Antonio played a significant leadership role in many disasters that strongly impacted residents and the community, including the aftermath of the 1995 rains and 2018 Woolsey Wildfire.
“The 1995 storms triggered devastating landslides across the Santa Monica mountains, and I was tasked with overseeing the geotechnical reconstruction of critical infrastructure, including roadways and bridges,” D’Antonio recalled. “Years later, I led the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Malibu and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County following the Woolsey Fire in 2018, which destroyed more than 3,000 homes across Los Angeles County. Both events tested our resilience and resolve, but they remain among the most meaningful chapters of my career.”
One of D’Antonio’s most meaningful contributions to the organization was leading the Women’s Leadership Council, where she continued building pathways of success for women in the field.
“Through the council, I was able to launch several initiatives designed to support women who wanted to move up the organization,” D’Antonio said. “Among them is the L.A. County Women’s Leadership Conference, which now attracts more than 1,000 attendees annually. We invite speakers from across the country to share insights on leadership, empowerment and how women can thrive in fields that have long been predominantly male-led.”
D’Antonio served in the deputy director role for seven years before leaving county service in 2023. She is now an executive director with NV5, a global engineering and consulting firm.
D’Antonio’s expertise also extends at the state and federal level. In 2020, D’Antonio was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists, where she advocates for safe, professional and ethical delivery of engineering services. She was also appointed to President Joe Biden’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council Disaster Response and Resiliency Committee, where she lent her expertise as an infrastructure subject-matter expert.
D’Antonio recently completed her three-year term on the board of directors for the American Society of Civil Engineers. However, her work is not done as she is now a candidate for president-elect in the 2026 election cycle.
She plans to continue advocating for safe aviation systems and infrastructure investments – a passion project built from love and grief. In 2008, D’Antonio’s brother, Cesare, (a commercial pilot) died in a plane crash along with four others. Her new memoir “26 Seconds” chronicles her personal story where she leverages her engineering expertise to dig deeper into the events leading up to the crash.
“What I uncovered was that the crash was far more than a tragic accident – it was the consequence of systemic failures that were both predictable and preventable,” D’Antonio said. “It wasn’t an isolated incident, but part of a troubling pattern that continues to surface in news stories around the world. My book exposes an aviation system under immense strain – one that affects us all, not just as bystanders, but as consumers.”
