From the Halls of Academia to the Formation of Government Policy
A Sector-Spanning STEM Legacy
Quincy was at a crossroads. She had just achieved tenure, the golden crown of the ivory tower. Was she really going to walk away from the halls of academia to forge a new path in the government and non-profit sectors? It would require a significant amount of self-reflection, self-awareness, self-care and guidance from the sisterhood. Fortunately, these assets have been plentiful in Quincy’s sphere.
Quincy had always set a high bar for herself. She just hadn’t been aware of it until she graduated from high school and realized that not everyone had experienced the same opportunities she had. Since the second grade, Quincy was part of an academic program for students who excelled in math and science. From a young age, she recalls participating in science fairs and “Olympics of the Mind” competitions.
Quincy successfully tested into The Bronx High School of Science, which remains, in her opinion, ‘the best high school in the nation.’ She recalls her fascination with learning to build circuits to power light bulbs. “It felt like art. I realize that’s a geeky thing to say,” she candidly acknowledges. “But that was how I felt.” It was this early fascination that led Quincy to major in electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Quincy worked in the defense and telecommunications industries for nearly ten years before returning to school to earn a Master’s and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Drexel University. Her years in graduate school led her to meet other Black women in the same field of study and she found them to be a source of support.
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This story was written by Saranya Murthy, Wogrammer Journalism Fellow. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Support our mission to celebrate more amazing women in tech, like the one featured here, by donating to AnitaB.org.
