Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?
I believed attending an excellent school, while working, would allow me to directly apply what I am learning in the classroom to the tasks I perform in the workplace in real time. As an engineer, I prefer application to theory. Kelley gave me that opportunity, while not burdening me with extended commutes.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
I have been in the program for less than a semester, but my favorite accomplishment, by far, has been our group project in Strategy. The project allowed me to comprehend the immense diversity in experiences we have within our cohort, confirming the transcendent advantage of completing an MBA while working. I have already begun applying many of the learnings from Strategy in the workplace on projects I lead, with immediate returns on investment and high levels of success.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
I am originally from Atlanta. Although my family remains there and the city will always be home, the traffic is horrendous. Indianapolis, though it has numerous well-known businesses, does not present the same traffic difficulties. There are also endless social activities here and it is very affordable. Ultimately, I believe Indianapolis uniquely affords me all the amenities of city life without the traffic challenges.
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
While studying at the downtown campus, I continue to work full time as an Improvement Engineer at the Indianapolis Business Center for Corteva AgriscienceTM, the Agriculture Division of DowDuPontTM. I also volunteer on two global steering teams, the Science Ambassadors, and the African American Network. In these networks, I use my time to give back to the communities where I live and work, whether it is applying for grants and leading projects for local organizations to increase their reach or mentoring local students for their future success. Most recently, I received the Eugene M. DeLoatch Legacy Award at the 2018 Black Engineer of the Year STEM Conference in Washington, D.C. It was a tremendous honor to receive this award from Dr. Eugene DeLoatch himself, the founding Dean of the School of Engineering at Morgan State University and first African American President of the American Society of Engineering Education. I believe investing in a more scientifically literate population greatly benefits us all.