Ep. 143: Dr. Carlotta Berry (@NoireSTEMinist) on Using Robotics to Diversify STEM
Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering Vanderbilt University Dr. Carlotta Berry
While we have made great strides toward racial and gender equity over the last century, disparities still remain in fairness and equal opportunity. Unfortunately, one of the sectors where these disparities are the easiest to spot is in STEM. Today on The Cohort Sistas Podcast, you’ll hear from Dr. Carlotta Berry, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and the 2021 to 2024 Dr. Lawrence J. Giacoletto Endowed Chair for Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Berry, who goes by NoireSTEMinist online, is a leading scholar in robotics and was one of the co-founders of Black In Engineering and Black In Robotics, which both work to bring awareness to systemic racism and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM. In this episode, Dr. Berry talks about her passion for diversifying the engineering profession by recruiting more underrepresented populations and women to the field, elaborating on her belief that the profession should reflect the world that we live in order to solve the unique problems that we face. She also shares how she intentionally pursued a PhD in order to become a teacher, why she chose to pursue a master’s degree before going into a doctoral program, and how she supplemented her doctoral stipend with side gigs, as well as the importance of using your voice and position to advocate for change, despite the potential repercussions. Tune in today to learn more!
Connect with Dr. Carlotta Berry on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
Key Points From This Episode:
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How the priorities for Dr. Berry’s recent sabbatical shifted from education to social justice.
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An introduction to Dr. Carlotta Berry and her work as a professor and advocate.
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The importance of examining technology through the lens of how people interact with it.
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How Dr. Berry first became interested in robotics and why we have to break the mold of what future engineers look like.
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How she believes that robotics can bring people from different backgrounds together
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Find out why she pursued multiple master’s degrees before entering into a doctoral program.
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How Dr. Berry hopes to make it easier for those who follow the path she took to get her PhD.
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Dr. Berry emphasizes the value of being authentic to who you are and what you want to do.
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Learn what it means to be a NoireSTEMinist and the intersectional nature of Dr. Berry’s work.
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Dr. Berry on why it is oftentimes better not to tell people what they want to hear.
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Highlights from her PhD program, including the multicultural dynamics of her research lab.
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The challenges of writing a PhD dissertation and Dr. Berry’s advice to hit the ground running.
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Hear how she supplemented her stipend with side gigs, including tutoring and braiding hair.
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Learn more about NoireSTEMinist, the origin of the name, and why it came to be a business.
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The importance of getting paid what you are worth, especially as a BIPOC in STEM.
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What Dr. Berry would have done differently on her academic journey: be more intentional.
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Her advice for students on the value of figuring out what resonates with you.
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Parting words of wisdom from Dr. Berry: if it’s important to you, go to grad school, because it’s where you can start doing important work for other BIPOC.
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The Cohort Sistas Podcast brings to life the stories, struggles, and successes of Black women with doctoral degrees and their lives beyond the degree. If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community, sign up to do so here, and if you are looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our partnerships page. Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow The Cohort Sistas Podcast, rate the show, and leave us a quick review.
