Some people build careers. Others build communities. Sheila Apte has spent a lifetime doing both, often quietly and always with purpose.

This spring, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette branch, honored Apte as its Distinguished Woman of the Year. The recognition reflects not only her professional achievements, but also her dedication to education, service, and opportunity for women and girls.

Apte’s journey began far from the East Bay. At 21, she came to the United States from Mumbai, India, to join her husband after earning a degree in civil engineering. One of few women in a male-dominated field, she carved out her place with determination and focus.

She worked as a civil engineer specializing in bridge design, a rare distinction for women at the time. Her work contributed to major infrastructure projects, including the New Carquinez Bridge in California and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State.

If engineering is how Apte built physical bridges, her volunteer work is how she has built human ones.

Since joining AAUW-OML in 2014, Apte has been a quiet force within the organization. She began as a tutor, working with third-grade math students at Burckhalter Elementary and assisting younger children in computer labs, continuing even through virtual learning during COVID. There, she helped students develop skills in math, language, and technology.

Her impact soon expanded. She took on key roles in the organization’s STEM initiatives, including management of the membership database, a critical but often unseen responsibility.

Colleagues describe her as a rock of reliability, someone who consistently shows up, follows through, and strengthens every effort she touches. In many ways, she embodies the spirit of a “hidden figure,” making a lasting difference without seeking recognition.

Apte’s passion for encouraging young women in STEM is deeply personal. Early in her career, she was often the only woman engineer in the room. That experience shaped her commitment to opening doors for the next generation, especially middle school girls, when interests and confidence begin to take shape.

Today, she helps coordinate volunteers for AAUW’s annual STEM conference at Saint Mary’s College and supports programs like Tech Trek, which introduces girls to hands-on science experiences and women in STEM careers.

She also leads one of the conference’s most popular workshops: designing and building model bridges. When the structures finally collapse under the weight of stacked books, students respond with laughter, curiosity, and questions about how real bridges work. For Apte, those moments are the reward.

Beyond AAUW, Apte remains active in the community she has called home since 1977. She participates in Moraga’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), taking part in monthly emergency-preparedness drills. She also served six years on the board of the Moraga Citizens Network, including as treasurer, and produced community newsletters.

Despite these accomplishments, Apte’s approach to life remains grounded. Family has always been central, guiding decisions throughout her career and helping shape the balance between professional achievement and personal commitment.

Outside engineering and service, she enjoys travel, creative writing, and oil painting, pursuits that reflect the same thoughtful, patient approach she brings to everything she does.

As AAUW-OML’s Distinguished Woman of the Year, Apte served as keynote speaker at the organization’s May Luncheon, sharing her journey from Mumbai to Moraga in her own words.

For those who know her, the honor feels well earned. For those just discovering her work, it is a reminder that some of the strongest bridges are not made of steel and concrete. They are built through service, mentorship, and a lifelong commitment to lifting others.

Sheila Apte has been building them all along.