Honoring Our Fathers - Chicago Street Journal - June 15, 2017 Edition

February Chicago Street Journal June 2017
“I had an abstract and paper accepted for presentation at
a conference in Cape Town, South Africa, and I went to
different departments looking for support for travel
there. It was such a huge opportunity. I told Dr. Robinson
what I needed, and without batting an eye he said
‘yes, ‘ and it was done,” she said. “Through that opportunity,
I was able to receive a Fulbright fellowship, and
it was life-changing. I spent seven to eight months in
Nigeria conducting research and teaching collegiate
level students.”
7
Anderson, who completed two engineering fellowships
in California, including the Nuclear Science and Security
Consortium Summer Fellowship at the University of
California, explained how her experience at FAMU empowered
her to embrace her culture and who she is as a
scholar.
Three Female FAMU Doctoral Graduates
Break Barriers in Engineering
“The most important thing that FAMU has taught me is
confidence in myself. My education process from middle
school all the way up to my bachelor’s was at predominantly
White institutions where I felt like the odd
one out in honors classes, gifted classes and Advanced
Placement classes,” she said. “At FAMU, I felt like ‘I
am actually supposed to be here, ‘ and everyone is on
equal footing, not just skin color wise but also education
wise.”
(Black PR Wire) (FAMU NEWS) According to the
National Science Foundation (NSF), minority women
comprise fewer than 1 in 10 scientists and engineers in
the United States. Studies from researchers around the
world reveal that one antidote to this disparity is to ensure
there are more role models in underrepresented
communities.
Three Florida A&M University (FAMU) female doctoral
students, who are also best friends, recently received
their doctorates in engineering. They endured
setbacks, including the loss of a classmate and overcame
financial hurdles to ensure that they join the next generation
of engineering leaders who will help close that gap.
On April 29, Miami native and Fulbright Scholar
Renee Gordon received her doctorate of philosophy in
mechanical engineering; Miami Beach native and Winifred
Burks-Houck Professional Leadership awardee
Shannon Anderson received her doctorate of philosophy
in civil engineering, with a concentration in environmental
engineering; and Birmingham, Alabama native
and NSF International Research Experiences grantee
Marcella Carnes received her doctorate of philosophy in
civil engineering with a concentration in structures.
Each earned their doctorate degrees under the guidance
of FAMU’s School of Graduate Studies and Research
and through support as participants in the FAMU-FSU
College of Engineering Title III Funding Program. They
are considering next steps including job offers and research
opportunities. In the meantime, Gordon and
Anderson will spend the summer teaching and helping
to recruit the next generation of engineering students,
while Carnes prepares for her wedding.
“We realize that we’re breaking barriers when it comes
to minorities and also women in STEM fields,” Gordon
said. “I feel like it’s really important for our young
Black and Brown boys and girls to know that they can
aspire to be whatever they want to be including engineers.”
Carnes added, “I feel proud to be an African-American
woman in the STEM fields. There’s not that many of us
(women). We’ve been challenged because STEM is
male dominated, (but) we are examples of the things that
you can set your mind toward and finish. We are no
longer ‘Hidden Figures.’ We have definitely been revealed.”
In addition to inspiring the next generation to break barriers,
the trio wants to encourage them to pursue careers
that will improve our way of life. They say the best
place to develop a career that makes a difference is at
FAMU.
“Not only did we receive the financial support, but we
also received emotional support; we received the bond
that we share in this community and a family that’s
striving to achieve the same goal. We have a shoulder to
lean on when we feel like we can’t move on,” said
Carnes, who also enjoyed unique opportunities when she
studied abroad in Poland as a part of a program that allowed
her to study civil engineering at campuses in four
countries.
Gordon expressed the important role that mentors like
her major professor Peter Kalu, Ph.D., and the engineering
school’s Title III Director Reginald Perry, Ph.D.,
played in her successful matriculation.
“FAMU’s programs have been a tremendous help in
assisting us both academically and professionally. The
faculty and staff have been amazing,” she said.
Gordon also recalled a time when FAMU’s Interim
President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., personally stepped in
to help her complete an important component of her
research experience.
The women agree that confidence helped the trio work
through system crashes, equipment failure, multiple trials
and errors, and even with overcoming tragedy, as
they all worked toward the finish line of their education.
In 2014, they suddenly lost colleague Tarra M. Beach,
an environmental engineering doctoral candidate. She
passed away before she received her doctorate. Her goal
was to “contribute to the sustainability of the environment
and work on STEM education with underrepresented
children.”
“She would have been the first woman to graduate with
her engineering Ph.D., from the Title III program at
FAMU. So, we were next in line to just follow her example,
her dedication, her passion and drive,” Anderson
said.
Beach’s legacy helped motivate the young women to
complete their goals.
“Losing Tarra was very hard. She was driven toward
education. She was so close to finishing and to know
someone worked that hard and not necessarily reaped
that benefit was emotionally draining for us,” Carnes
said. “But it also let us know we are blessed to be here
and that we can move on. Her legacy is that she believed
in education and through us, and all women, she is here.
Through our eyes, she has her Ph.D., because she was
such a scholar.”
Gordon explained the loss of Beach and earning a degree
in a field where women and ethnic minorities are underrepresented
taught her and her friends the lesson of a
lifetime: nothing is impossible when you persevere.
“It was tough, but we had each other. We stayed connected.
Just keep on going. Be determined. Be persistent,”
Gordon said.
A video about this inspirational story is available on
YouTube.com.
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