Dr. Wendy Okolo is a Nigerian born award-winning Aerospace Engineer and Special Emphasis Programs Manager at NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She is also the first black woman to obtain a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, USA.
She is also a supporter of changing the narrative of under-representation in STEM, particularly for young girls, career women, and people of color. She also has an interest in intelligent systems, flight mechanics, GNC (guidance, navigation, and control) for aerospace applications.
Education
Okolo attended Queen’s College, an all-girls school in Lagos, Nigeria, for her secondary education before enrolling at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering.
She went on to pursue a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering between 2010-2015 at the same university.
Agent of change
Other than her role as an Aerospace Researcher, Dr. Okolo has also served as a special emphasis programs manager for women. She works to ensure NASA’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women.
Some of her initiatives include creating nursing rooms for mothers. This helps to ease their transition back to work and analyzing job language usage in position descriptions to remove language biases that reduce female applicants.
She often gives keynote speeches, serving on various panels, inspiring the next generation of minority STEM leaders, and providing tools for individuals and organizations to foster diversity and inclusion in STEM.
