Diaz, who graduated from UOG in 2021, recently passed the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. UOG received notification from the Guam Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, Architects, and Land Surveyors (Guam PEALS) that Diaz is now licensed in Guam as a professional civil engineer.

For Diaz, the achievement is the culmination of a journey that began at UOG more than a decade ago. Born and raised on Guam, Diaz attended Guam Department of Education public schools and is a first-generation college graduate. She entered UOG as a pre-engineering student in 2014, earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 2019, and returned to pursue civil engineering when UOG’s School of Engineering launched the degree program.

“I feel honored,” Diaz said. “I didn’t really have a roadmap to follow — I had to figure a lot of things out along the way.”

Today, Diaz works as a structural designer at Dueñas, Camacho & Associates, Inc. in Guam under structural engineer Tom Camacho. Over the past four years, her work has given her experience designing for Guam’s seismic and typhoon conditions, applying building codes, conducting fieldwork, and managing smaller projects.

“Becoming a P.E. means taking on a greater responsibility to the public,” Diaz said. “As a professional engineer specializing in structural, I get to do that by helping design buildings and structures that are safe, practical, and economical.”

Preparing for the P.E. exam meant returning to intensive studying after four years in the engineering industry while working full time and raising two young sons. Diaz credited her husband, Christian, with making time during weeknights and weekends for her to prepare.

Diaz said UOG prepared her not only with technical engineering knowledge, but also with communication, writing, presentation, and teamwork skills that have become essential in her professional career.

“UOG’s SENG professors did a great job preparing us technically for the industry,” Diaz said. “They gave us real-world examples of code application and problem-solving that made the transition into my career much easier.”

“You can be the smartest person in the room, but if you can’t communicate what you know, that knowledge doesn’t go very far,” she added.

Building Guam’s engineering workforce
Diaz’s achievement comes during a period of significant growth for engineering education at UOG. The School of Engineering has 303 students this semester, reflecting growing demand for locally accessible pathways into engineering and related professions.

In January 2026, UOG opened its new 16,000-square-foot School of Engineering facility to support engineering instruction, research, and workforce development. SENG has also expanded its academic offerings with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, 2+2 mechanical engineering pathways with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and Colorado School of Mines, and plans for a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in fall 2027.

“Kayleena’s milestone represents the impact of UOG’s Civil Engineering program,” said Ernesto Guades, chair and associate professor of civil engineering at the UOG School of Engineering. “Seeing a Guam native and UOG graduate become a licensed Professional Engineer is a testament to the quality of education we provide here at home and shows that our graduates are well prepared to succeed in the civil engineering profession.”

Guades said developing locally educated and professionally licensed engineers is critical to building a homegrown workforce that understands Guam’s infrastructure challenges and community needs.

Hiroshan Hettiarachchi, dean of the UOG School of Engineering, said Diaz’s achievement demonstrates what the growing local engineering pipeline can produce.

“This achievement proves that our civil engineering program delivers a rigorous, high-standard curriculum capable of producing top-tier, fully licensed professional engineers right here on home soil,” Hettiarachchi said. “Building up a local talent pipeline ensures our island’s critical infrastructure is designed and maintained by engineers who deeply understand Guam’s unique environment and social needs,” he added.

For Diaz, staying on Guam has been central to her journey.

“I think a lot of students feel like they have to leave Guam to get a good education or build a good career, but I’m a big believer that those opportunities are here too,” Diaz said. “Guam is my home, and I’m really grateful that I was able to earn my education here and now have the opportunity to practice here professionally.”

Diaz now hopes to give back to Guam’s STEM community and encourage young people to see engineering as a career they can pursue without leaving home.

“There’s a lot of talent here,” Diaz said. “I hope I can play a small part in showing that our home is enough.”