Prairie State Wire

Porsha Key began her journey with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) in 2011 through the rotation program. In 2015, she took on the role of a project studies engineer for District 8 in Collinsville.

Discussing her current position, Key explains, "The position I’m in now determines the engineering feasibility and cost-effectiveness of in-house and sometimes contracted work for location and design studies of projects." Her responsibilities include preparing engineering reports that may feature environmental, bicycle, and crash analyses to secure design approval. She occasionally collaborates with the public and local municipalities to create design alternatives that adhere to federal and state policies.

Reflecting on her work's impact beyond her official duties, Key shares, "Outside of my position, I’ve acted on behalf of the department to provide mentorship and recruitment of high school and college STEM candidates."

When asked about her favorite part of the job, Key says it is "definitely working with the motoring public so the department understands what they want to see in their communities." She also values recruiting efforts at Tennessee State University where she was initially recruited by Secretary Omer Osman.

Key attributes her preparedness for her role to participating in the Professional Advancement of Civil Engineers program. This experience helped advance her career development while connecting with peers passionate about multimodal transportation.

Her contributions extend beyond professional duties as she volunteers with IDOT programs like Upward Bound that foster interest in STEM fields. Outside work, Key enjoys traveling—particularly to Italy—and spending time with family. Her interests also include live music concerts and fashion.

In addition to sharing these aspects of her life, Key notes that during school she studied abroad and double-majored in architectural engineering alongside civil and environmental engineering.