Immigrating from Santiago, Chile, to the State of Michigan, Ruth Engel took up her interest in geology and pursued a career in the refractory industry. Venturing into the mill as a woman in men’s clothes, Engel started her first steelmaking job at ARMCO. Being tried and tested in the mill, Engel overcame numerous challenges presented to her and learned the technical side of the industry. Engel took the knowledge she accumulated across industries and started her own consulting company. Evolving from steel refractories to aluminum and failure analysis, Engel grew her company by networking with industry professionals and professional societies AIST and AIME. Amidst consulting and society seminars, Engel encourages the future generation to learn about the refractory industry by going out into the field and getting their hands dirty. 

Learn about how she surmounted the challenges of being an international woman in the refractory industry in her oral history.

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To see more great oral history captures, visit the AIME Oral History Capture Program page.