Paving a Path
/Engineer Taehlor Lafferty Defies the Odds in a Male-Dominated Industry
By Phoebe Warren
submitted photo.
Historically, the presence of women in STEM fields has been disproportionately low. However, according to the US Census Bureau, the number of women in engineering has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, allowing for diversity in perspectives and skills across the field. Adding her name to the influx of women engineers is Texarkana’s own Taehlor Lafferty.
Taehlor didn’t initially set out to pursue engineering. Instead, she obtained an associate’s degree in general education through the University of Arkansas Hope–Texarkana in 2019. She then proceeded to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing through Texas A&M University–Texarkana before changing her major from nursing to engineering.
Taehlor became the first woman to graduate from the mechanical engineering program at Texas A&M–Texarkana. photo by john bunch.
“I have always had the desire to help people,” Taehlor said. “There are so many ways to do that, either by making life easier for someone, caring for someone, or creating something to help someone.”
Taehlor knew firsthand how engineering could improve the world. “I grew up seeing my father design tools to aid us on the farm,” she said. “Being just my parents and me, he also came up with ideas or tools to make it easier on us [when doing things] like mending fences, building cattle panels, and more.”
“When I saw that the mechanical engineering program was open at Texas A&M–Texarkana, I set a goal to be the first female mechanical engineer to graduate.”
Though Taehlor’s mind was made up, the transition was anything but simple. “I had wanted to pursue nursing since I was a child,” she admitted. “The switch from nursing to engineering was a different mindset.” On top of her full-time studies, Taehlor also juggled her responsibilities as a wife and stepmother. She was determined to succeed.
“When I saw that the mechanical engineering program was open at Texas A&M–Texarkana, I set a goal to be the first female mechanical engineer to graduate,” she shared. Taehlor chose to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering due to its versatility. “Mechanical engineering is a mix of civil, electrical, and software engineering, with heavy notes of mechanical aspects,” she explained.
In May 2023, Taehlor became the first woman to graduate from the mechanical engineering program at TAMU–T. Soon after commencement, she started working at the Domtar Ashdown Mill as a reliability engineer.
“In my job, I create equipment inspection routes for operators throughout all departments in the mill,” she said. “When creating these inspections, I work alongside our mill operators to examine and ensure safety and reliability of the mill equipment. All inspections are based on our senses: sight, smell, touch, and hearing. I work with very knowledgeable people who are passionate about what they do.”
Nationwide, only 15% of engineers are women, but Taehlor thrives in her field nonetheless. “Currently, I’m the only female reliability engineer at our facility,” she said. “I’m not intimidated by this; instead, I embrace it. I feel like female engineers can bring something to the table that’s unique. I’ve always seen it as an advantage because I stand out when it comes to my ideas, my approach to people, and the way I relate to others.”
Taehlor with her husband, Miles, and stepson, Landon. submitted photo.
Though Taehlor’s job description is all about keeping equipment operational and running smoothly, there is one piece of hardware she consistently breaks: glass ceilings. Taehlor intends to continue working at Domtar for the foreseeable future, paving the way for other engineers like her.