Pipes, Purpose and Perseverance:
A Journey in Process Technology
By Scott Turnbough
By all accounts, Carline Njeru is a powerhouse. As an operator at Chevron Phillips in Pasadena and a key member of the fire and emergency response team, she handles high-stakes responsibilities in a field still largely dominated by men. But her path to success didn鈥檛 start in a control room. It began thousands of miles away in Nairobi, Kenya.
Raised by her grandparents, Njeru came to the United States as a teenager after the loss of her mother. Her journey is marked by resilience, reinvention and a relentless desire to create a better life for her children.
鈥淚 always wanted to be an engineer like my grandfather,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut when I came to this country, I met Robert Leal, a process operator and ACC alum, who introduced me to operations, and I realized that was exactly what I needed to do.鈥
That realization led her to the Process Technology program at ACC, a decision that shaped her future in powerful ways.
Njeru speaks passionately about the program, which trains students not just to pass exams but to walk into industry jobs with confidence.
鈥淭he instructors have actually worked in chemical plants,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 just teach from a book. They teach you to be an operator.鈥
Hands-on training is a core element of the program. From full-scale equipment labs to the Polaris Unit outside campus, students interact with the same systems and tools they will encounter in the field.
鈥淲e touched the pipes. We learned how to trace lines. We used the DCS systems. So by the time you get to a plant, it鈥檚 not a shock. It鈥檚 second nature,鈥 Njeru said.
The program also offers mock interviews with industry professionals, plant tours and strict training on workplace expectations. Even classroom policies mirror the real world.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e five minutes late to class, it鈥檚 marked as a missed day. That鈥檚 how it is at work. If you鈥檙e late, your coworker can鈥檛 go home,鈥 she said.
The program is rigorous. Coursework includes chemistry, physics and instrumentation. Students must be ready to compete.
鈥淭he job market is mature. Only the best get hired,鈥 Njeru said. 鈥淵our GPA matters. You have to bring your A-game.鈥
She completed her degree with minimal student debt thanks to scholarships offered by the college. Today, she has a job that allows her to provide for her family and build a future she once only imagined.
鈥淭his program gave me the chance to give my kids a childhood I never had,鈥 she said.
As a woman in the field, Njeru has found a welcoming environment at her company.
鈥淭hey treat you like one of the team,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like going to work with family.鈥
For Carline Njeru, ACC鈥檚 Process Technology program was more than a path to a paycheck. It was a path to purpose.
