For Gloria Shepherd, the road to career success started off Maple Avenue in her hometown of Albany, N.Y., wound through her schooling at the University at Albany, and led her to the nation's capital where, today, she serves as the executive director of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) — the 11th person and the first woman and African American to fill the role.  

"From her work at the Maryland and New York Departments of Transportation, to more than two decades at FHWA, Gloria has dedicated her extraordinary career to serving the traveling public," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement in October 2022 when Shepherd ascended to her position. "We are lucky to have her expertise, insight and dedication as we work to modernize our nation's roads, bridges and highways to serve the American people now and for generations to come."

With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shepherd is responsible for administering more than $350 billion in funding to deliver, according to FHWA's strategic plan, "a world class system that advances safe, efficient, equitable and sustainable mobility choices."

"It does not fall short on me the enormous responsibility that comes with this position," said Shepherd, whose father was a Navy baker and then a laborer for NYS Department of Education, and whose mother was a maid and then a technician at Albany Medical Center.  "I am grateful that history has allowed me to fulfill the dreams of my parents and relatives who have gone on and bent their shoulders low, so I could stand on them in this position of public service."

As a young person, Shepherd dreamed that public service would take shape as an ambassador. It's a dream that is partly realized as the FHWA executive director, who also serves as the U.S.'s first delegate to the World Road Association (WRA), a United Nations-like body of more than 125 government members, where Shepherd is on WRA’s executive committee and has final authority on U.S. policy positions and votes within the WRA. International collaboration is key, she believes, to meeting the global challenges posed by aging infrastructure, population shifts, climate change, a fossil fuel-free future and other pressing issues.

"There is a lot of opportunity because a number of countries are technically proficient and advanced," said Shepherd. "The world is changing. Technology is changing, and we want to keep up with that technology and actually drive it."

Shepherd — who has a Doctor of Arts degree in humanistic studies from UAlbany, two law degrees, and is a member of the New York State Bar — points to research and collaboration with universities, state departments of transportation and the private sector that will help usher in a range of technological innovations in the near future; ideas like Elon Musk's Hyperloop — an ultra-high-speed transportation system of tubes — are among projects with which she has been involved.

"I actually traveled out to L.A. to see their prototype," she recalled. The prototype track has since been torn down. "That technology will come to fruition at some point because it's not only Elon Musk. There are other people who are now exploring it in different parts of the country."

Shepherd likes to think about the future, especially the next generation of leaders, and she takes pride in mentoring people of all colors and capabilities.

"I see mentoring as a way to bring along people who don't have the requisites and everything in place," said Shepherd citing her management philosophy. "You hire those who have a little farther to go because you know they have the desire and the capability … If you know anyone, send us their resume. We're hiring."

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