When I began college as a Deciding major at Xavier University of Louisiana, I had no idea what subject I wanted to pursue. However, the moment I took my first undergraduate-level Calculus class, I started to feel a pull in the direction of the mathematical sciences. The superb faculty and staff in Xavier’s mathematics department helped to cement my decision to major in math. It was their encouragement that lead me to attend summer research programs, and ultimately to attend graduate school.

My Xavier mentors also introduced me to the Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) program. Because of EDGE, my support network expanded drastically. I was now connected to individuals at every level—from tenured professors, to post docs, to fellow graduate students—all invested in my success.

I am proud to say that in December 2017 I became the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Statistics from Purdue University. The wealth of advice and encouragement that my EDGE and Xavier networks have offered throughout this journey was absolutely crucial. Currently, I’m a fellow at Insight Data Science in Seattle, where I’m learning to leverage my skills in statistics and machine learning to create useful products with industry applications. Wherever my career in the mathematical sciences leads me next, my own experiences remind me of the importance of paying it forward. I look forward to supporting the next generation of students the way so many others have supported me.