NEWS RELEASE: Four San Diego Unified Women in Construction Receive National Recognition
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Four San Diego Unified Women in Construction Receive National Recognition
SAN DIEGO (March 28, 2025) - As Women’s History Month draws to a close, San Diego Unified School District’s women in construction continue to shine, with four women receiving recognition from the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego - Chapter 21 for demonstrating exceptional commitment in the construction industry.
San Diego Unified Business Outreach Coordinator Alma Bañuelos received the 2025 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Champion Award. The San Diego NAWIC chapter also awarded the Project of the Year to San Diego Unified’s La Jolla Elementary School Whole Site Modernization project and the all-woman team who led that project:
- Project Manager Saya Haddad
- Construction Manager Miranda Wendt
- domusstudio Architect Lisa D'Ambrosia
This honor recognizes the trailblazing efforts made by women in the construction industry and each woman’s dedication to building a more inclusive future in construction.
“It inspires me to see more women recognized for leadership in fields where they have been historically underrepresented,” said Dr. Fabi Bagula, Superintendent (Interim) for San Diego Unified. “These milestones show our students that they, too, can achieve success.”
“La Jolla Elementary School has provided a focal point for family and community life in La Jolla for the last century and these women’s beautiful design ensures that it will continue to do so for the next,” said Board of Education President Cody Petterson. “The children, staff, and community of La Jolla owe Saya Haddad, Miranda Wendt, and Lisa D'Ambrosia our profound gratitude.”
More About the Award Winners
Within the Facilities, Planning, and Construction Department of San Diego Unified, Bañuelos advocates for small, local, and diverse construction contractors, suppliers, and architect/engineer firms. These businesses include minority, veteran, and women-owned organizations.
With more than 20 years in the K-12 construction industry, Haddad worked for Oakland and Berkeley Unified before coming to San Diego Unified as a project manager in 2017. Wendt has spent more than 17 years in the construction industry, working as a general contractor, project manager, and now a senior construction manager with San Diego Unified. D’Ambrosia has been an architect with domusstudio architecture for more than 20 years and works on various large projects, including San Diego Unified bond projects.
About NAWIC
Founded in 1953 by women working in construction, NAWIC began as Women in Construction in Fort Worth, Texas, as a support network, gaining its national charter in 1955. Modern-day NAWIC provides its members with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service, and more. It partners with the Future Construction Leaders, a 501(c)(3), to educate young people about the opportunities in the construction industry. Learn more at https://www.nawic.org/.
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