From Civil Engineering to Naval Architecture

An engineering degree can lead somewhere you never expected. This week on the Viterbi Voices podcast, host Paul Ledesma speaks with USC Viterbi alumna Zenzile Moore (CE ’07) about the experiences that took her from studying civil engineering at USC to designing ships, barges, and other floating structures.

Zenzi reflects on how she found community and built confidence at USC through her relationships with professors, classmates, and the broader campus community. She also shares how her interest in teaching inspired her to pursue a PhD in Civil Engineering at MIT before her career took an unexpected turn into naval architecture.

For prospective USC engineering students, Zenzi’s journey offers a valuable reminder that choosing a major does not mean choosing one fixed future. The knowledge and problem-solving skills developed through engineering education can translate across industries, sometimes in surprising ways. In Zenzi’s case, that path led to work on an ice-strengthened barge for McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

Her story also speaks to a familiar part of the college experience: learning to move forward without having every step planned. By asking for help, staying open to new possibilities, and trusting the process, students can discover opportunities they may not have imagined when they first began studying engineering.

Listen to the full Viterbi Voices episode to hear more about Zenzi’s USC experience, her path into naval architecture, and her advice for students navigating uncertainty in college and beyond.