Professional Statement

I became interested in Computer and Information Sciences upon entering into my sophomore year at Spelman College. Computer Science is an integral part of numerous aspects of our daily lives and are responsible for advances in many diverse fields. When I began seriously thinking about my future I knew that I wanted to select a field of study in which learning never ceased. I knew I had to select a major that was constantly growing and evolving, and that would allow me to gain skills that would be applicable to any major company, business, government, and private sector. I was also seeking a challenge in an area in which the subject matter did not come easy to me. With all of this in mind I decided to embark on a journey through the field of Computer and Information Sciences. By studying in this field I knew that I would be able to complete work that could grow to reach past any computer screen and touch the world.

I am confident that equipped with my intense enthusiasm, thirst for knowledge, and the advancement of my technical skill set I will excel in the field of Computer and Information Sciences. I have a heightened interest in technology as well as the aptitude to learn and apply new skills. In order to build upon my skill set and gain knowledge, during the summer of my freshman year I participated in a summer research experience for undergraduates at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore located in Eastern Shore, Maryland. The REU was a ten-week intensive program in which I worked under the mentorship of Dr. Ali Ishaque in the field of ecotoxicology.

The principal investigation surrounded the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals as well as contaminants of emerging concern released from wastewater treatment facilities on the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding Maryland Coastal Bays. Treated and untreated wastewater samples were collected from the Somerset County Sanitary District Inc. Water Samples from the Coastal Bays and Chesapeake Bay were collected at specific targeted points in the bodies of water. The water samples were stored in the dark at 4 degrees Celsius and a solid phase extraction was performed within 48 hours of sample arrival. A nitrogen concentration and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis was performed following extraction. I was able to participate in designing an analysis of contaminants of emerging concern in wastewater, Chesapeake Bay, and Maryland Coastal Bays that resulted in the discovery of the feminization of male fish.

Learning in a classroom setting is not enough for me. I am always seeking out of the classroom opportunities to learn and grow academically. During the summer of my sophomore year I participated in a summer research experience for undergraduates at Elizabeth City State University located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The title of our project was Spectroscopic Image Signature Classification of Land Cover Types Using Multi-Spectral Data within a Neural Network. My team and I embarked on an investigation that is still very novel in the field of remote sensing. We targeted the national landmarks of Jockey’s Ridge and Wright Brothers Memorial Park in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina to collect sand and grass data samples. These locations were chosen because LANDSAT data is continuously updated and accurate in areas in which National Landmarks are located. Our principal investigation surrounded the specific question of how to classify land cover types using a neural network with at least eighty six percent accuracy. Using ground truthed data of spectral signatures that we were able to verify with Land sat 7 band data we set out to prove that we could classify different land cover types using their spectral signatures. Our team was able to successfully train a neural network to use our collected data samples and classify two different land cover types with a hundred percent accuracy.

Participation in this summer research experience allowed me to gain valuable skills such as operating Linux, Mac OS X, GPS training, and the ability to use cascading style sheets inside of Adobe Dreamweaver. I was also challenged to think critically to solve complex problems, work collectively with a team, and encouraged to strive for a higher education beyond my undergraduate studies. A highlight of this summer experience for me was exploring the question of how to develop a sensor platform housing lab spectrometer equipment for the field? Our team answered this question by engineering a device we named the “Spectator” as a sensor platform to hold all of our lab equipment. The “Spectator” enabled us to use lab equipment in order to successfully complete fieldwork. Our device produced such great results that we even obtained a Creative Commons license for our design. . The skills acquired during this experience are applicable to any future endeavor I choose to embark on.

I plan to graduate from Spelman College with my Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Sciences in May of 2014. I would then like to pursue a Masters degree in Cyber Security. Ultimately, I would like to obtain my Ph.D. in Computer and Information Sciences. I plan to impact the world in a positive way through global actions in Cyber Security. Breaking barriers, overcoming obstacles, commitment to service, and seeking knowledge are integral parts of my life.  William Faulkner once said, “Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do.  Don’t bother to just be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”  This quote is one that I will remember for the rest of my life because there is always more to accomplish and achieve in life.  Your life’s work is never complete, and you should never focus on becoming better than others but always focus on how you can improve and empower yourself to do great things.