In a business that is predominantly ruled by men, one woman has dared to break the social norm.

Known for its crude atmosphere and even tougher workers, construction work is not for the faint of heart. But that didn't stop Maile Rogers, who entered the construction world as a child, from becoming the College of Engineering and Technology's first woman full-time teacher.

Rogers recently graduated, at 24, with her master's from BYU's School of Technology, with an emphasis in construction management. She now teaches courses in soils and equipment, and concrete and masonry.

"She was an excellent student so we were confident that she would be an excellent teacher," said Jay Newitt, program chair of construction management.

At age 4, Rogers was out helping her father with the family's construction business that was started by her grandpa 112 years ago, painting trashcans and doing odds and ends.

"We did anything to help out Dad," Rogers said.

The time that Rogers spent working with her father instilled in her a deep love for construction, a love that would go undiscovered until she started college years later.

"Construction was the last thing that Maile wanted to do," said Dawna Moody, Rogers' mother. "She originally wanted to do elementary education and special education."

All of that changed when Rogers attended a World of Concrete convention in Las Vegas with her father, her mother said.

Rogers returned to BYU and changed her major from elementary education to construction management.

As Rogers attended classes at BYU she quickly learned what it was like to be the only woman in a male-dominated major.

"When you are the only girl in class you get singled out," she said. "When I was single it was really cool, but when I got married it became awkward."

Rebekah Cazier, a senior from Atlanta, Ga. majoring in construction management and a student of Rogers,' has also felt what it is like to be singled out.

"Being a woman in the major is kind of different, but it isn't a bad thing because women are known to be more detailed oriented," Cazier said. "I don't feel outcast or like the fifth wheel, but I am identified in my classes as 'The Girl.'"

After enduring four years of being "The Girl," Rogers graduated with her bachelor's and returned home to work for the family business, Walker Moody Construction.

She worked for a year and a half as a project manager overseeing a $2 million project, said Tyler Rogers, Maile's husband and a master's student in construction management from White Salmon, Wash.

In the spring of 2005 Rogers returned to get her master's from the College of Technology with an emphasis in construction management. Before the term began, Maile met future husband Tyler, eventually providing the impetus for him to become a master's student in the construction management program.

"My wife is the whole reason behind why I am in construction management," Tyler Rogers said. She has led the way, not only graduating with her master's in August 2006, but also signing her contract to teach the same day.

"When I first started [teaching] I was extremely intimidated, but it's not too bad now," Maile Rogers said. "It is scary to start teaching, but it is even scarier to teach people who are older than I am."

Although her teaching career has just begun, her students love her.

"I think she is a great teacher," Cazier said. "I know it is her first time teaching and she seems a little nervous, but I think she has done a great job so far."

Tyler Rogers also praises his wife's abilities.

"She is a take-control kind of girl and she isn't afraid to be in charge," Tyler Rogers said.

When Maile Rogers isn't teaching, her husband is in her office getting help.

"I ask her a lot of questions and she keeps me going in the right direction," Tyler Rogers said.