Black History Month Spotlight: Devon Rollins, HBCU Alum and STEM Trailblazer
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Posted By: Reginald Culpepper on February 23, 2017 AT&T is celebrating black culture with their 9th annual Black History Month 28 Days program. The program is honoring black trailblazers in the arts, business, community and STEM. One of the innovators being honored is North Carolina A&T State University alum, Devon Rollins. Rollins is a co-founder of STEMLY, an urban education initiative that encourages black youth to explore careers in the sciences. What is your background and how did you become interested in STEM? Rollins: I grew up in Suffolk, Va., where I discovered my interest in STEM. Suffolk was a “tech dessert,” meaning there were not many resources or access to technology. However, my inherent allure to tech drove me to connect with people all over the world in the early days of the internet. Suffice to say, I was fascinated by the power of technology at an early age. What is STEMLY? Rollins: STEMLY is a non-profit organization that creates a framework for making STEM education accessible to all. With an amazing group of passionate STEM leaders, STEMLY was founded with the hopes to instill STEM education into underrepresented communities. Operating currently in the Washington D.C. area, we’ve been going strong for three years and are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of youth as we help to prepare next generation of STEM innovators. How did your HBCU experience impact your career and life? Rollins: My historic alma mater, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, is well known as one of the top schools to graduate black students in STEM. I received an advanced degree in Computer Science and Information Assurance. Going to an HBCU was not only critical in my educational journey – it also served as a training ground for my personal development. I am proud to tout my HBCU education throughout my career endeavors. I value the totality of my HBCU experience because it taught me a sound knowledge of self, the rich history and culture of my ancestors, and provided me with life-long friendships. Black people have helped shape American culture and commerce throughout history. The AT&T 28 Days “#BlackExcellence” photo albums highlight some of these compelling stories visually. In addition, @ATT followers can win prizes by correctly answering #BlackExcellence trivia via Twitter. The AT&T 28 Days sweepstakes runs Feb. 1 through March 5. You can learn more about AT&T 28 Days at att.com/28Days. And be sure to enter for a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. to visit historic sites in black history. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Reginald Culpepper
President, Fulfillment and Web Services, HBCUCONNECT Clark Atlanta University class of 1998 Member Since September 2000 |
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