Growing up in the Dominican Republic, BCC’s Construction Project Manager Lilian Romero loved anything and everything related to art, architecture and engineering. In addition to spending time painting and drawing, she would visit her carpenter uncle at his shop or join her construction contractor father out in the field.

Coming to New York at age 17, Romero’s journey has not been nearly as tidy as the layouts and drawings she produces. She took on a part-time job at a local supermarket and then at a clothing store to pay for English classes and then spent a full decade pushing through every obstacle that came her way.

“If you have a goal, be patient and keep working at it despite the roadblocks. It may take some time, as it did for me, but things happen when you persist,” Romero said.

Romero discovered BCC at age 18, completing her Associate Degree in Graphic Design in 2009. She then went on to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree at The City College of NY and her five-year degree at CUNY’s NAAB-Accredited Spitzer School of Architecture.

During her eight years of school, Romero worked full time supporting herself. Her daily schedule consisted of classes from 9 am until 3 pm (through the CLIP program), followed by work from 3-11 pm and then the same routine each day thereafter.

Romero’s father was her biggest fan. Her advisors were a close second, encouraging her to continue her education, stay in school during the toughest of moments and pursue her ultimate goal of becoming an architect.

“Having gone to all CUNY schools, I feel right at home here at BCC. Everyone is so warm, and the professors are so loving. I always felt supported and made a lot of friends here,” Romero said. “There’s a big difference between going to school just to pass classes versus coming here to be part of a community and enjoying learning while building relationships with people.”

These days, it is rare to encounter Romero without a clipboard in hand. She joined the Facilities and Planning Department at BCC a year ago and has been collaborating with her team working on projects across campus, including the preservation of the Hall of Fame; renovation of Meister Hall’s Bronco Express, which will house the offices of Admissions, Registrar, Bursar and Financial Aid all under one roof; utility infrastructure upgrades; fire alarm projects, and creation of the new Infant Toddler room in The Early Childhood Center.