Women in Welding
When Crimson Moriarty was in high school, she shares that “I had no clue what I was going to do with my life.” Then, a friend introduced her to welding. “That’s what kick-started my story. I just fell in love with it, and I really thought I could pursue a dream out of it.”
As a high school junior, Moriarty signed up for concurrent welding classes at CMU Tech. After graduating high school in spring 2024, she became a full-time student. In May 2025, she earned her basic welding certificate and will complete her associate’s degree in welding in December 2025. Degree in hand, she’s looking forward to “harsh conditions absolutely in the middle of nowhere, with long days and long nights” working as a pipeline welder. Moriarty prefers industrial and structural welding, so this is a good fit, and one that pays well, too.
Giovanna Martinez is the first female technical welding instructor at CMU Tech. Her route to welding grew from her interest in metal art. “I started at the main CMU campus as a studio art major,” she said. Recognizing that her “end goal” was to make money, she focused on welding to advance her art and build marketable skills in the trade. “There’s money, good jobs. I can also do my art here. That’s how I landed on CMU Tech,” she explained.
Martinez came to CMU and CMU Tech as an adult student, transitioning from a previous career. After completing an associate’s degree in welding in 2023, she earned an associate’s degree in machining in 2024 before becoming an instructor.
She explains that certificates and degrees at CMU Tech build upon each other, not just in welding but across the technical and vocational programs, adding that the associate’s degree in welding qualifies students for management and upper-level positions in construction and the welding industry.
Martinez encourages her students to build their resumes with a variety of skills and trades. “I think exposure to any of our trades here is just a bonus. Any additional education you can acquire for yourself is only going to benefit you in the future,” she explained. “Most shops run a machining side and a welding side, so if you can have both on the résumé, that really sets you apart from the rest.”
When asked about the intersection of welding and art, both Martinez and Moriarty agree that all types of welding are an art. Moriarty explained that it “takes a lot of time and patience and practice to make sure you get the job done right.” Martinez added that “you’ve got to have a touch for it and a flow. It’s not just slapping down some metal on other metal. There’s a rhythm and a reason to it. And the big bottom line is safety. If we’re not doing our job properly, then we’re not putting things together properly, and that puts everybody at risk.”
In the United States, approximately 0.1 percent of people work in welding, a shockingly small number in a field that is a literal economic building block. Of that number, 6 percent of welders are women. When asked about being CMU Tech’s first female welding instructor, Martinez responded, “It’s insanely huge to be the first one to represent females in the welding industry. But there really isn’t gender. It’s just about being a welder. We’re all here. We’re all on the same plane and we’re all striving to be the best in the industry and do the best for our trade.”
Moriarty adds that CMU Tech offers incredible support to students. “This is a true family, not just in the welding industry but everywhere. All of our trades are combined, so we’re just one big family, and there’s so much support. I’ve never seen anything like that before.”