About Us

This event is a collaborative effort between Cal Poly faculty and students. The event will be hosted by Cal Poly’s Construction Management Department, in collaboration with the Social Sciences Department. Meet some of the event organizers below.

Learn more about the team for the third-annual hackathon – looking at head protection

Olivia Pisani

My name is Olivia Pisani and I am a fourth-year construction management major from Orange County, California. I am ecstatic to be a part of this year’s hackathon event. As a woman in construction, I have personally always felt that the hard hat could be more inclusive and comfortable for people with different hairstyles. It has become our goal to find a better design that can be customized to the unique headwear needs of hard hat wearers. I look forward to participating in an event that will facilitate a conversation around PPE changes that will make a difference to every single user.

Isabella Peterson

Hi! My name is Isabella Peterson and I am a fourth-year construction management student graduating in the Spring of 2024. I am originally from Laguna Beach, California, but am moving to Sacramento to work for McCarthy Building Companies post-graduation. During my time at Cal Poly, I was the president of the Women in Construction Club where I discovered my interest in tackling issues on the jobsite that impacted female workers. This led me to the realization that hard hats were not only exclusive to women’s varying hairstyles but also all kinds of accommodations that needed to be made for everyone on the job site.

Stacy Kolegraff

An Assistant Professor in the Construction Management Department, Stacy is working to create a more inclusive construction industry, starting with looking at the physical, tangible items that support a diverse workforce.

Kylie Parrotta

Kylie Parrotta is an Assistant Professor in the Social Sciences Department. She uses mixed methods approaches for understanding the reproduction of inequality in various institutional contexts.

Contact Us

Fill out the form below to answer any questions about the event or research.