Advancing the Cause of Education: 7 Black Women Who Kicked in the Schoolhouse Door

Gwendolyn Boyd

In 1979, Gwendolyn Boyd became the first black female to earn a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Harvard University. After a year at IBM, she joined the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory team, where she performed classified submarine navigation tests and evaluations for the Department of the Navy. Boyd also worked to develop the ATLAS Summer Program, which provides summer internships to minority students majoring in computer science and electrical engineering.  In addition, she oversaw the launch of SEE (Science and Everyday Experiences) to encourage women and minorities to pursue careers in science and engineering. Boyd also established the International Day of Service AIDS awareness program. She received the Black Engineer of the Year Public Service Award in 1996, and Ebony magazine named her among the 100 Most Influential Black Americans in 2003 and 2004.