Bio

Patricia A. Coleman, P.E. (Pat)
ACE Mentor Program Liaison
Thornton Tomasetti

Patricia (Pat) Coleman, a former principal of Thornton Tomasetti spent 36 years in the practice of structural engineering living and working in Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas. She was the first woman to oversee a Thornton Tomasetti office. She retired at the end of 2014 and relocated back to Iowa City, Iowa.

Mentoring started early with volunteer work as a Girl Scout leader, a coach for Destination Imagination and Odyssey of the Mind teams, and President of the Band Board. Pat is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. In 2011 she was inducted into the University of Iowa College of Engineering Distinguished Engineering Alumni Academy in part because of her efforts with ACE. She currently serves as a member of the University of Iowa College of Engineering Advisory Board.

During her 21 years with TT she helped shape skylines across the Southwest and mentored the next generation of engineering professionals within the Dallas office.

In 2003 Pat worked with local firms in Dallas to organize the DFW ACE Mentor Affiliate. During the DFW Affiliate early years Pat served on the local board of directors and became chair of the ACE National Affiliates Council. Her passion, directness and tireless efforts served to support Thornton Tomasetti and ACE.

Upon retirement Pat was named the Thornton Tomasetti liaison to the ACE Mentor Program. Her role (aside from the National Board and Executive Committee) is to promote the program within the firm and to assist as needed with Affiliates nationally.