Background
School and Major: Howard University with a Chemistry Major, Biology Minor
How did you get interested in environmental justice? What drew you to NASA?
I’ve always been interested in making a difference in underrepresented communities. There are many ways to do that, but the effects of climate change have disproportionately affected minority communities for so long and it’s something I have witnessed in my own community. My first exposure to environmental justice was through a program at Temple for Women in STEM. I was able to curate an invention that solved some sort of environmental issue in the city of Philadelphia (my hometown). My partner and I chose light pollution to focus on. We were able to create a device with the goal of decreasing the effects of light pollution, and it felt very rewarding to know that I could do this on a larger scale. This led me to be interested in NASA, because I know that there are so many divisions and departments that would allow me to do just that. I also knew that because it is so broad, working at NASA would allow me to explore other ways of making a difference through science if I choose to.
Describe what your work is like at NASA. What’s your favorite part of the job so far?
My work at NASA is very diverse and interesting. I get to work on creative projects, research different EJ topics, and learn more about NASA and the world of science. My favorite part of my job so far has been working with my team at HQ. I feel very accepted and comfortable with the people I work with, and I feel like they actually care about my progress in and outside of NASA.
What are your goals?
One major goal for me is to educate and inspire those coming after me to make a difference through science, if that is the field they are interested in. There are many people who went before me that inspired me to pursue chemistry, and even environmental justice. I appreciate their insight and words of encouragement, and I would love to be that for someone else.
What are your hobbies?
In my free time I love to model, try new restaurants, and go to the spa.