I began my educational journey at the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCATSU). My major was biological engineering and I graduated #6 in the May 2010 Class for the College of Engineering. During my time at NCATSU, I studied abroad at the University of Limerick in Ireland in the spring semester of 2008. I was also a member of the University's Honors Program which supported my travel to Ghana, Singapore, and Malaysia during the spring break of 2009 and 2010, respectively.  

NCATSU opened so many doors for me! I began my first summer research internship sponsored by the University's Division of Research and Economic Development in 2007. The next summer I continued to do research in the biological engineering department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2008, I received the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Scholarship, which sponsored the remainder of my time in college. This scholarship gave me the opportunity to intern at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico. Following my graduation, I spent one year at LANL for a post-baccalaureate. It was here that I realized that my pursuit of a doctorate would be feasible. I later gained admittance into Clemson University's Doctoral Program in the Earth and Environmental Science Department.

I had no idea that I would be making history at Clemson University. I just chose Clemson because it is one of the rare institutions in the U.S. that have a nuclear/radiochemistry focus in their environmental engineering program. Having researched nuclear forensics at LANL and with an educational background in biological engineering, I wanted to continue my studies in environmental engineering. My other unfavorable option was to enter a nuclear engineering advanced degree program; but without any prior coursework in this field, I suspected that my graduate experience would begin with a few undergraduate courses.  

It took me five years to finish Clemson and three of those years were tumultuous. Through all the trauma and racial microaggressions I experienced, I pondered the question, "Is it because I'm black?" 

Sure enough and to my surprise, the Clemson University Office of Institutional Research revealed to me that I was the first and only African-American admitted into the University's Doctoral Program in Environmental Engineering and Science. This explained a lot regarding how I was treated and perceived by my department. 

Although I was given many opportunities to quit and even encouraged to do so. I thought about my foundation...

Achieving Great Goals In Everything... Producing Renowned Individuals Dedicated to Excellence... AGGIE PRIDE!!!