In recognition of Black History Month, we sat down with two members of the College of Engineering, Sam Graham and Melody Foster, to talk about their experiences both personally and professionally as first-generation African American college graduates. Both share their thoughts on how we can continue to better champion the importance of diversity at Georgia Tech and in our personal lives. Melody Foster is a unit administrative officer in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Samuel Graham is the Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair and professor for the Woodruff school.
Can you tell us about an early experience that influenced you personally or professionally?
Graham:
My parents didn’t go to college, so I am a first-generation college student. My parents grew up in South Carolina, and their way out of the rural south was my dad joining the military. As we grew up moving around the world as a military family, my parents instilled in us hard work and a lot of core values that stick with me today. So, a lot of the things that you see me do and how I behave are a result of what I learned from my parents. And I think that has served me well — the discipline that I have in terms of how to approach things.
My parents gave me opportunities that they didn’t have growing up in the rural south. There were things that my siblings and I had to do growing up that probably most other kids had to do in terms of work around the house, but I had the time to focus on school in a way that my parents probably didn’t have growing up on a farm. And with my dad serving in the military, I got a chance to see a lot of high-tech equipment, which sparked this curiosity for mechanical things. In high school, I attended a summer camp at the University of South Carolina, and two summer camps at Clemson University that introduced me to this thing called ‘engineering.’ I didn’t even really know what engineering was, but I did know that they covered some topics that I was curious about, and it was a way to visit a college campus for a couple of weeks while in high school. By the time I did the second summer camp at Clemson, I knew engineering was what I wanted to do, and I knew that it was going to be mechanical engineering. I have four siblings, and luckily, all of us were able to go to college and do quite well. All of us were instilled with the same work ethic by my parents, even though they did not go to college.
Once I got into college, I continued to do internships — partially because my parents didn’t have a lot of money to send me to school, so I had to make money, and internships are a great way to do it. I did two internships at Pratt and Whitney, and then went to a few other companies, and I just really began to understand what was going on in various sectors of engineering. I also worked in a research lab as an undergrad because it was fun doing a lot of experimental testing and learning more about ME. I think those were early influences for really grounding me.
Foster: When I was in high school, I wanted to be a teacher. But my counselor was like, ‘No, you’re more business oriented. You should go into the field of business or accounting or something like that.’ So, I listened to what he had to say and enrolled into college as a business major. While in college, I worked at a company where they allowed me to restructure the office. My office manager was awesome. She told me that I had a knack for organizing and getting people to do what I needed them to do. She allowed me to use the skills I was learning in school. We also streamlined how tasks were handled. She helped me understand that I’m good at leading people. She also helped me to understand that accounting really wasn’t for me, and that I needed to find out what I wanted to do. So, I kind of fell into my field that way.
Is there someone you view as a major role model in your life?
Graham:
Dr. Namas Chandra, the faculty member I worked for at FAMU-FSU in undergrad would definitely be one of my role models. And then when I got to Tech for graduate school, my advisor, David McDowell was phenomenal in terms of believing in me, teaching me, and giving me guidance to grow professionally. In terms of being African American, coming to grad school where there weren’t many people like me, I would say Gary May had a tremendous influence on me. Learning from Dr. May was inspiring and made me want to emulate the way he did things with excellence. As a faculty member, Seth Marder and Bernard Kippelen were excellent early role models that helped me to expand my research into new areas. At various stages along my journey, these people made me believe that as a young African American, being an engineer and a faculty member was something that I could do and be successful.
I would also say that peer-to-peer mentoring was just as significant for me during my graduate studies at Tech. Calvin Mackie, Johnny Green, Stacey Dixon, and Angela Birkes all were influential during my time at Georgia Tech. Their successes would influence me, and I would turn around and influence them. I think these cohorts of fellow students that you develop are so important, because the faculty can’t always be there for every step that you take.
Foster:
My parents were my first and strongest role models. They taught me everything I know. They taught me the importance of keeping my word, being faithful to who I am, no matter what comes at me in life, and remembering who I am. My parents were not able to go to college. But they made it their business that my siblings and I, graduate from high school and attend college or trade school in whatever field we wanted to do. They’ve always encouraged us and continue to this day (my father passed away, but my mom is still here).
I’ve also had three people that have served as professional role models for me at Georgia Tech. The first one is Melinda Wilson. She used to be over our admin team in the Woodruff School. Melinda had worked at Georgia Tech for about 20 years at the time and retired with 36 years of service. She took me in from the day I started working as a front desk person, and she trained me to do things the Georgia Tech way. She showed me how things were done. If I had questions, she would answer them. And she was my biggest supporter. She’s retired now, but we still keep in touch and she continues to support me.
My second one is Ward Winer. He was my former supervisor as ME school chair. He was the one who told me that I no longer was going to work at the front desk, that I needed to move out of that comfort zone and move into something that was challenging and would make me more active in the school. He didn’t take no for an answer. I laugh about this now because I said ‘no’ several times. He said, ‘Go apply for the job!’ He mentored me and pushed me to be better. Although he’s been retired for 14 years now, we still keep in touch, and he still checks on me to make sure that everything is going well.
And my final role model is LaJauna Ellis. She has encouraged me to pursue job opportunities and to grow in my position. And even now, if I need anything such as advice or encouragement, I can always call her. She’s always been there. I think it’s important that you have people like that around you when you’re working. Because you need that, from time to time…no questions, they’re just there to encourage you and support you.
What types of personal and professional obstacles have you faced and how have you overcome them?
Foster:
I don’t dwell on other people’s negativity. So, a lot of times when people aim their racism at me, I subtly correct them, or I ignore them.
But there have been a few times that I’ve been treated differently because of my skin color. For example, while attending Georgia State University in 1986, I took a job there; I was going to school part-time and working full-time. I received a call one day from the VP of finance, asking for a particular report. And I said, ‘Okay, I’ll prepare it, and I’ll bring it up.’ When I walked in his office, he said, ‘You’re not the person I just spoke to.’ And I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ And he said, ‘I asked her to bring me this report.’ And I said, ‘You did speak to me.’ So I gave him the report, and I went back downstairs. Later that day, I overheard him in my supervisor’s office, and he said, someone was playing tricks on him. He said, ‘I talked to a white girl, not a black one. And when I ask people to do something, I expect them to do it.’ When he came back out of the office, I politely said, in a professional tone, ‘Please tell me exactly what a black woman sounds like, should I be talking like this or something,’ and I changed the tone of my voice. He couldn’t respond. He just walked away. My supervisor was livid with him. But I was like, you’ve got to be kidding me! In this day and age, are you really telling me that he expects me to behave a certain way because of the color of my skin? So that pushed me to remember that no matter who I’m with, and what I do, I have to always be professional, because more is expected of me than my counterpart who may have the same experiences and the same lifestyle. Because of the color of my skin, I have to be on top of my game, and I have to stay there. There’s no room for failure sometimes and no room for forgiveness.
Personally, I think there’s a lot of work that we need to do in America, and I don’t know how to change it. I wish I had an answer. But I know that if we start to look at each other as people and not as ethnicities, like black or white, we’ll get along a whole lot better.
Graham:
It ties back to growing up in a family where we were first-generation college students. We were all doing well, but we could have easily fallen into a trap of not making it. As a first-generation college student, you may have great talent, but the fact that you don’t have the money, and you don’t have someone there to guide you on how to go to college, how to make certain decisions, and how to get through it makes it that much more difficult. I am thankful that I had good mentors, and that’s why I have a desire to always reach back and help talented first-generation college students.
I’d say the biggest hurdle was not knowing the opportunities, not knowing what was really out there, and not knowing what you could really become. It’s hard to believe in something that you haven’t envisioned. So, at some point, you have to believe in people’s encouragement of you to keep pushing, and you have to seek out the truth, and find out what’s really inside of you. And eventually you grab ahold of that dream and you run with it.
What are your thoughts on how we can continue to better champion the importance of diversity at Georgia Tech and in our personal lives?
Foster:
I think Georgia Tech from top to bottom need to continue to communicate the importance of managing bias through seminars, classes, training programs, etc. Not everyone is going to attend it but if you put it out there and enough people start to change, they’ll bring people with them. I feel you must lead by example. Titles matter as far as how you get promoted, but they shouldn’t matter on how we treat people. I don’t know that it can be done across the board, but Georgia Tech needs to train people, and then generally promote diversity when hiring in the higher-level positions. I’m not saying hire just because of the color of their skin, but hire because of the quality of work and skills that person brings to that position, and what they’ve shown that they can do.
Foster with her colleagues in the Woodruff School.
Diversity can’t just be at work, your personal life has to reflect that in order for it to be meaningful. If we only practice diversity at work and we don’t do it at home, I don’t think the full transformation is going to happen.
Diversity is about reading and learning about other people. Learning different cultures, learning what makes people who they are. If you want to know something, read, study, and then ask questions. I think if you learn about things and you’re educated about something, then you can do something about it. So, if I could say anything to encourage diversity, it would be: educate yourself, and then be active in making a change.
Graham:
We have to continue building the community to improve diversity — championing how to bring more people into a great place like Georgia Tech, expanding access for a broader pool. In addition to bringing more people in, you need the right environment once they get here. Otherwise, they won’t grow and reach their potential. So, I think we have to do a great job in terms of attracting the talent, but we also have to continue working on the environment that students, staff, and faculty have to operate in. That is probably the biggest thing we can do. And if we don’t do that, we’re going to continue to have the problems that we see in terms of the underlying climate and divisions working against our goals of making this truly a place that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion.
At Georgia Tech, we talk about improving the human condition. And the question I have is, ‘How are you going to impact society, if you don’t understand society? How are you going to improve the human condition if you don’t understand the human condition?’ By bringing diverse groups of people in, you’re bringing in bits and pieces of those stories and an understanding of the challenges faced in society. And that is what gets you to the point of better understanding the human condition, and better understanding the problems in society. You have to do it through diversity. It is truly about bringing in the right voices, so we can come up with the best solutions.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture(Washington, DC) Since opening in 2016, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture has become one of the most popular museums in Washington, DC. This museum takes visitors on a trip through time starting with the Black Experience in America with its history Galleries that start from Slavery to Emancipation and then from Segregation to Today. There are also exhibits that focus on Black History in popular culture. You can explore more than 3,500 exhibits online.
Archives of African American Music & Culture (Bloomington, IN) The collections in the Archives of African American Music & Culture museum highlight African American music ranging from classical, religious, and popular music to include R&B and hip hop.
The Museum of African American Art (Los Angeles, CA) The Museum of African American Art interprets, promotes, and preserves art by or about people of African descent. It was founded in 1976 to increase public awareness of African American Art.
The Gordon Parks Foundation (Pleasantville, NY) You can take a trip through time with the life work of famed African American photographer, Gordon Parks. The Gordon Parks Foundation showcases Parks’s career, which spans from the 1940s up until his death in 2006, Parks’ photographs focused on race relations, Civil Rights, and urban life.
Dance Theater of Harlem (New York, NY) The Dance Theater of Harlem is the first Black classical ballet company and the first major ballet company to prioritize Black dancers. This school was founded more than 50 years ago. There are four online exhibits about the history of this world-famous dance company.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (Kansas City, MO) You can take a virtual tour of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and there’s a short movie introduction into the Negro League Baseball that includes interviews with former Negro League players.
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (Washington, DC) Take a virtual tour of Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass’s Historic home in Washington, DC. Douglass, an abolitionist, orator, writer, and former slave purchased this stunning 21-room Victorian mansion 1878. There are a number of rooms filled with artifacts that are viewable in the online tour.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) – University Libraries [Online Exhibit: African Americans at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1892-1971] (Greensboro, NC) The UNCG’s online exhibit offers a riveting look inside of the life of some of the African American employees who worked on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This exhibit features not only photos of the Black workers in the late 1800s but there are artifacts listing how much the University paid some of its Black employees.
The Black Archives of Mid-America (Kansas City, MO) The Black Archives of Mid-America there are two online exhibits available for viewing: one about famous dancer Alvin Ailey; and the other about the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District in Kansas City.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) (Atlanta, GA) The King Center is part of the memorial and childhood home of Dr. King. This online exhibit contains various letters and miscellaneous documents and artifacts.
DuSable Museum of African American History (Chicago, IL) Created in 1961, the DuSable Museum of African American History is one of the oldest museums of African American history. Originally started as the Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art, this museum was the home of the largest caretaker of African American culture until the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at Moton Field (Tuskegee, AL) Take a virtual tour of the primary flight-training site for the Tuskeegee Airmen, Black pilots of World War II.
U.S. National Archives [Exhibit: Black College Life in the New Deal] (Washington, DC) This online exhibit features fascinating photos of Black Student’s lives on college campuses between January 1, 1933, and December 31, 1941.
CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUMS – You can find a complete list of all of the virtual tours and experiences offered by the United States Civil Rights Trailhere.
National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel The National Civil Rights Museum located in Memphis, TN and serves as not only a memorial but also as a museum. The museum was built around the Lorraine Motel, which was where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968. The museum traces the Black civil rights movement. It is filled with so many gems to include: a replica of the Montgomery city bus where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and a garbage truck to commemorate the “I Am A Man Sanitation Workers Strike,” which is the strike that brought Dr. King to Memphis.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. This museum is a multicultural center and it highlights the Civil Rights Movement and the modern human rights movement. The museum has a Voice of the Voiceless gallery, which showcases the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection.
International Civil Rights Center & Museum The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, located in Greensboro, North Carolina in the original Woolworth’s building. This museum’s mission is to commemorate the A&T Four and its role in launching the sit-in movement.
Martin Luther King Birth Home As part of the National Park Service, you can visit the Martin Luther King Birth Home and see where Dr. King spent the first 12 years of his life.
Howard University Founded in 1867, Howard University is a historically Black university located in Washington, DC. The Founders Library holds the largest collection of African American documents, letters, and oral histories about the Black experience. Several buildings on the campus of this institution have been designated as National Historic Landmarks.
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, which opened in 2017 covers the entire Civil Rights Movement but it provides more insight into the murders of Emmett Till and Medgar Evers.
Just Add Honey wants you to enjoy the best, freshest, and most flavorful teas with every sip. Whether it is a black tea, herbal tea, fruit tea, or specialty tea, Just Add Honey wants you to enjoy every cup.
Not As Famous Cookie Company is a gourmet cookie truck and bakeshop offering handcrafted freshly baked cookies, brownies, brookies, ice cream sandwiches, deep dish cookies, and more.
Located in Ponce City Market, The Village Market ATL is a quarterly marketplace premiering carefully selected and diverse Black artisans, makers, and service providers from across the country.
The truth is, I miss in-person conferences and workshops as a means to engage in professional development. I love visiting new cities, meeting with friends and new colleagues, and presenting sessions in person. However, professional development is not only about conferences and workshops. Professional development, at least how I define it, centers on growing my strengths and talents, stretching myself to meet new goals, and engage with colleagues who support my development. It wasn’t until recently when I realized how impactful coaching and the ETD Initiative have been to my growth and I am thrilled to share insight into our ETD outreach.
The Effective Team Dynamics Initiative was developed with the intention of reshaping team experiences in a positive way. Utilizing research driven methods and reflective evaluations, the ETD team has expanded to a campus-wide initiative which includes over 5500 students and 1250 faculty/staff that have been trained during the past four years. The ETD Initiative empowers Gallup-Certified Strengths Coaches to engage our campus community in strengths-based development that is fully integrated in courses, workshops, retreats, and professional development trainings. Within our ETD team, we coach each other and continue to create new programming efforts to meet the ever-changing team dynamic needs of our campus community.
As a team, we create opportunities to reshape team experiences by asking three key questions: Who Am I? How Do I Team? How Do We Team? Interactive workshops focus on the unique characteristics of the individual (Who Am I?), what the individual brings to the table and how they interact with others (How Do I Team?), and how to understand and navigate team dynamics (How Do We Team?). In addition to workshops, we have certified coaches who meet one on one for individual strengths-based coaching sessions. In the coaching sessions, we explore your top five strengths with you as you begin to learn how your natural talents are utilized (or not) within your professional and personal life. These sessions provide an opportunity for you to set goals situated in your talents and strengths.
In these unprecedented times, personal and professional development may take a backseat to the daily tasks and unknown situations that come up in our lives and work. The silver lining is that you work on a campus where the ETD Initiative is thriving, despite the pandemic. We continue on with our mission to bring a strengths-based approach to our students, faculty, and staff. Our ETD Blog, provides insight into the impact of strengths-based team dynamics across campus. I welcome you to reach out directly to me, if you have questions about my coaching experience or personal/professional development plan, which is enhanced by my ETD coaching experiences. If you are interested in learning more about how to become a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, view the Gallup website here. I encourage you to schedule a workshop or a coaching session, or learn become a coach within the ETD Initiative. I look forward to connecting with you here!
The Culture Champion award is given to individuals who are striving to build a better culture in their School and College. The nominees are advocates for a positive and productive culture and help inspire others to promote a culture of inclusivity and acceptance.
Vickie Brian – AE Assistant Director for Admin Operations
Vickie has a sense of optimism and determination which is an inspiration to staff and faculty. Her can-do attitude, inclusiveness, and energy have brought a renewed sense that AE is a good place to work and grow.
Brenda Morris – BME Corporate Relations Manager
Brenda builds a culture of trust and teamwork by acknowledging others, incorporating their thoughts with hers to envision a common goal, and then encouraging others to help execute that goal.
Danielle Ramirez – CEE Academic Program Coordinator
Danielle has organized workshops to drive a strong and positive culture across the School. She is valued for her hard work, expertise, celebrating others and going the extra mile.
Ellen Murkison – ChBE Academic Advising Manager
Ellen’s contributions to fostering student engagement have helped to create a collaborative student culture that is based on comradery more than competition, and this also translates to more positive interactions with staff and faculty.
Teresa Askew – ECE Assistant to the Chair
Teresa enriches her school by advocating for staff and her willingness to put in the hard work through a passionate leadership vision.
Amanda Ford – ISyE Graduate Programs Manager
Amanda is regarded as a trustworthy colleague for students and faculty alike, always acting in the students’ best interests. Amanda is a modest soul who is quick and joyful about complimenting others for their efforts
Scott Elliott – ME Machine Shop Supervisor
Scott has been very successful in developing ways to improve the communication with students and faculty, while also understanding the fabrication needs and design requirements from multiple disciplines on campus.
Kerry Wallaert – MSE Educational Outreach Manager
Kerry is the embodiment of positive engagement and goes above and beyond to participate actively in our department and committees, creating an environment of openness and teamwork.
