I started out an industry and was in the trenches as a software engineer for ten
trenches as a software engineer for ten
trenches as a software engineer for ten years before I wandered into academia as
years before I wandered into academia as
years before I wandered into academia as a research scientist I was a single mom
a research scientist I was a single mom
a research scientist I was a single mom working full-time doing my PhD at night
working full-time doing my PhD at night
working full-time doing my PhD at night those years were a blur finished my PhD
those years were a blur finished my PhD
those years were a blur finished my PhD I became a professor and some of my
I became a professor and some of my
I became a professor and some of my other passions as you’ve heard I’m a
other passions as you’ve heard I’m a
other passions as you’ve heard I’m a puppy raiser for service dogs I also am
puppy raiser for service dogs I also am
puppy raiser for service dogs I also am an avid dog trainer and lots of other
an avid dog trainer and lots of other
an avid dog trainer and lots of other venues such as dog agility which we’re
venues such as dog agility which we’re
venues such as dog agility which we’re competing at national levels I also have
competing at national levels I also have
competing at national levels I also have a lot of horses and head horses my whole
a lot of horses and head horses my whole
a lot of horses and head horses my whole life I compete at international level in
life I compete at international level in
life I compete at international level in dressage I’m also a dressage judge and
dressage I’m also a dressage judge and
dressage I’m also a dressage judge and so with all of those passions together
so with all of those passions together
so with all of those passions together my daughter who is now an adult we
my daughter who is now an adult we
my daughter who is now an adult we decided that we needed to raise our own
decided that we needed to raise our own
decided that we needed to raise our own veterinarian and so she’s now in vet
veterinarian and so she’s now in vet
veterinarian and so she’s now in vet school her third year in vet school and
school her third year in vet school and
school her third year in vet school and she’s coming home she’s coming home so
she’s coming home she’s coming home so
she’s coming home she’s coming home so how about you Adrian so I also started
how about you Adrian so I also started
how about you Adrian so I also started off in industry and I tried desperately
off in industry and I tried desperately
off in industry and I tried desperately to let melody train our dogs but we have
to let melody train our dogs but we have
to let melody train our dogs but we have had two delinquents I think so she
had two delinquents I think so she
had two delinquents I think so she unfortunately but we love them still and
unfortunately but we love them still and
unfortunately but we love them still and I heard I love dance absolutely love
I heard I love dance absolutely love
I heard I love dance absolutely love dance and to the point of dance fitness
dance and to the point of dance fitness
dance and to the point of dance fitness classes had a brief stint as a dancer
classes had a brief stint as a dancer
classes had a brief stint as a dancer for a semi-pro football team very brief
but still I’ve been fused that into our
but still I’ve been fused that into our children so we have a five year old girl
children so we have a five year old girl
children so we have a five year old girl and a seven year old boy and so
and a seven year old boy and so
and a seven year old boy and so fortunately for my non-dancing husband
fortunately for my non-dancing husband
fortunately for my non-dancing husband they are my partners on the floor so
they are my partners on the floor so
they are my partners on the floor so this is worked out well all right so
this is worked out well all right so
this is worked out well all right so this is going to be a conversation
this is going to be a conversation
this is going to be a conversation between the two of us and you’ve already
between the two of us and you’ve already
between the two of us and you’ve already heard that we are in the brain computer
heard that we are in the brain computer
heard that we are in the brain computer interface arena so I want to broadly
interface arena so I want to broadly
interface arena so I want to broadly pose to melody what attracted you first
pose to melody what attracted you first
pose to melody what attracted you first to research an industry I’d love to be
to research an industry I’d love to be
to research an industry I’d love to be an industry I loved making things and
an industry I loved making things and
an industry I loved making things and selling things and making something
selling things and making something
selling things and making something useful to somebody but I would have
useful to somebody but I would have
useful to somebody but I would have these wild ideas that I wanted to
these wild ideas that I wanted to
these wild ideas that I wanted to explore and I felt like academia made me
explore and I felt like academia made me
explore and I felt like academia made me a little better venue for that to be
a little better venue for that to be
a little better venue for that to be able to have these these big dreams and
able to have these these big dreams and
able to have these these big dreams and to be able to just do whatever you want
to be able to just do whatever you want
to be able to just do whatever you want the the beauty of academia is what I
the the beauty of academia is what I
the the beauty of academia is what I consider complete in
consider complete in
consider complete in so freedom now there’s a caveat and that
so freedom now there’s a caveat and that
so freedom now there’s a caveat and that is that your great ideas have to be
is that your great ideas have to be
is that your great ideas have to be funded so some of the advice that I give
funded so some of the advice that I give
funded so some of the advice that I give to my mentees and my students now is
to my mentees and my students now is
to my mentees and my students now is become a really good communicator
become a really good communicator
become a really good communicator because you can have a great idea but if
because you can have a great idea but if
because you can have a great idea but if you can’t convince someone else that
you can’t convince someone else that
you can’t convince someone else that it’s a great idea it’s never gonna go
it’s a great idea it’s never gonna go
it’s a great idea it’s never gonna go anywhere I got really good at writing
anywhere I got really good at writing
anywhere I got really good at writing proposals early in my career in industry
proposals early in my career in industry
proposals early in my career in industry actually and then later on in academia
actually and then later on in academia
actually and then later on in academia and we have received millions of dollars
and we have received millions of dollars
and we have received millions of dollars of funding for our research so I think
of funding for our research so I think
of funding for our research so I think that’s a really key factor what about
that’s a really key factor what about
that’s a really key factor what about you Adrian I fortunately had folks plant
you Adrian I fortunately had folks plant
you Adrian I fortunately had folks plant the seed early on so when I was an
the seed early on so when I was an
the seed early on so when I was an undergraduate student I had the good
undergraduate student I had the good
undergraduate student I had the good fortune of taking a course from a
fortune of taking a course from a
fortune of taking a course from a gentleman named Randy Pausch and you
gentleman named Randy Pausch and you
gentleman named Randy Pausch and you might recognize this name from last
might recognize this name from last
might recognize this name from last lecture Fame that he passed away from
lecture Fame that he passed away from
lecture Fame that he passed away from pancreatic cancer but it was an
pancreatic cancer but it was an
pancreatic cancer but it was an inspirational course to be able to take
inspirational course to be able to take
inspirational course to be able to take his usability engineering and understand
his usability engineering and understand
his usability engineering and understand about humans and design and whether we
about humans and design and whether we
about humans and design and whether we push versus pull the door not because of
push versus pull the door not because of
push versus pull the door not because of our own intellect but because of the way
our own intellect but because of the way
our own intellect but because of the way that things spoke to us and the way it
that things spoke to us and the way it
that things spoke to us and the way it was made and that just lit me up to be
was made and that just lit me up to be
was made and that just lit me up to be able to focus on that area of
able to focus on that area of
able to focus on that area of human-computer interaction we were
human-computer interaction we were
human-computer interaction we were working on programming things called
working on programming things called
working on programming things called VCRs you may remember so this was just
VCRs you may remember so this was just
VCRs you may remember so this was just an exciting area within technology to be
an exciting area within technology to be
an exciting area within technology to be able to use my people skills as well and
able to use my people skills as well and
able to use my people skills as well and then someone else who planted the seed
then someone else who planted the seed
then someone else who planted the seed to say why don’t you consider going back
to say why don’t you consider going back
to say why don’t you consider going back for a PhD and at the time oh I present
for a PhD and at the time oh I present
for a PhD and at the time oh I present really well that’s all that it takes
really well that’s all that it takes
really well that’s all that it takes right to be a successful professor and
right to be a successful professor and
right to be a successful professor and the rest the seed was planted and took
the rest the seed was planted and took
the rest the seed was planted and took root wonderful so not just research but
root wonderful so not just research but
root wonderful so not just research but this special area of brain computer
this special area of brain computer
this special area of brain computer interface research what got you into
interface research what got you into
interface research what got you into that and do you have a background in
that and do you have a background in
that and do you have a background in neuroscience not one zip of background
neuroscience not one zip of background
neuroscience not one zip of background in neuroscience I have three degrees in
in neuroscience I have three degrees in
in neuroscience I have three degrees in computer science but what happened was I
computer science but what happened was I
computer science but what happened was I met a neurologist who was interested in
met a neurologist who was interested in
met a neurologist who was interested in this field and I worked with him for
this field and I worked with him for
this field and I worked with him for many years I absorbed everything I could
many years I absorbed everything I could
many years I absorbed everything I could I learned everything that that possibly
I learned everything that that possibly
I learned everything that that possibly was out there about neuroscience so I
was out there about neuroscience so I
was out there about neuroscience so I was inspired though to go into assistive
was inspired though to go into assistive
was inspired though to go into assistive technology because my grandmother who I
technology because my grandmother who I
technology because my grandmother who I called me marr had MS
called me marr had MS
called me marr had MS and she was completely paralyzed except
and she was completely paralyzed except
and she was completely paralyzed except for her left hand and when I was a child
for her left hand and when I was a child
for her left hand and when I was a child I never thought anything about that i
I never thought anything about that i
I never thought anything about that i sat on her lap we rode around in her
sat on her lap we rode around in her
sat on her lap we rode around in her wheelchair which was a manual chair by
wheelchair which was a manual chair by
wheelchair which was a manual chair by the way she never even had a power chair
the way she never even had a power chair
the way she never even had a power chair and she took care of herself she raised
and she took care of herself she raised
and she took care of herself she raised three children and she held down a
three children and she held down a
three children and she held down a full-time job as a librarian in their
full-time job as a librarian in their
full-time job as a librarian in their little town in West Point Georgia and as
little town in West Point Georgia and as
little town in West Point Georgia and as I became an adult I realized how
I became an adult I realized how
I became an adult I realized how astounding this woman was and I started
astounding this woman was and I started
astounding this woman was and I started thinking what could she have done if she
thinking what could she have done if she
thinking what could she have done if she had a computer and so that inspired me
had a computer and so that inspired me
had a computer and so that inspired me to raise puppies for service dogs and
to raise puppies for service dogs and
to raise puppies for service dogs and also to go into this field because there
also to go into this field because there
also to go into this field because there are people out there there’s half a
are people out there there’s half a
are people out there there’s half a million people worldwide who are locked
million people worldwide who are locked
million people worldwide who are locked in which means completely paralyzed and
in which means completely paralyzed and
in which means completely paralyzed and unable to speak their thinking feeling
unable to speak their thinking feeling
unable to speak their thinking feeling understanding just like you and I are
understanding just like you and I are
understanding just like you and I are but they cannot communicate and so I was
but they cannot communicate and so I was
but they cannot communicate and so I was very inspired to go and try to help this
very inspired to go and try to help this
very inspired to go and try to help this population of people what about you well
population of people what about you well
population of people what about you well does it count that I wanted to take
does it count that I wanted to take
does it count that I wanted to take marine biology just to dissect more
marine biology just to dissect more
marine biology just to dissect more stuff okay well I think in my other life
stuff okay well I think in my other life
stuff okay well I think in my other life it would be a neurosurgeon so that’s
it would be a neurosurgeon so that’s
it would be a neurosurgeon so that’s what I’ve channeled into this area of
what I’ve channeled into this area of
what I’ve channeled into this area of brain computer interfacing learning
brain computer interfacing learning
brain computer interfacing learning enough to be dangerous but then taking
enough to be dangerous but then taking
enough to be dangerous but then taking the system’s view and I think that’s the
the system’s view and I think that’s the
the system’s view and I think that’s the strength that I have brought is being
strength that I have brought is being
strength that I have brought is being able to see into end what is happening
able to see into end what is happening
able to see into end what is happening for system and bringing in the best of
for system and bringing in the best of
for system and bringing in the best of neuroscience and computer science and
neuroscience and computer science and
neuroscience and computer science and incorporating that into an interface
incorporating that into an interface
incorporating that into an interface that is useful to someone and
that is useful to someone and
that is useful to someone and fortunately meeting someone who has
fortunately meeting someone who has
fortunately meeting someone who has already gone ahead before me to open
already gone ahead before me to open
already gone ahead before me to open those doors within this very niche area
those doors within this very niche area
those doors within this very niche area of human-computer interaction so when I
of human-computer interaction so when I
of human-computer interaction so when I met melody and that was when I was
met melody and that was when I was
met melody and that was when I was interviewing and looking at doctoral
interviewing and looking at doctoral
interviewing and looking at doctoral programs I met her and instantly realize
programs I met her and instantly realize
programs I met her and instantly realize I’m doing whatever she’s doing the
I’m doing whatever she’s doing the
I’m doing whatever she’s doing the synergy yeah you hear about her
synergy yeah you hear about her
synergy yeah you hear about her background but I resonated with that I
background but I resonated with that I
background but I resonated with that I saw this other person who was a geek
saw this other person who was a geek
saw this other person who was a geek with good social skills and being to
with good social skills and being to
with good social skills and being to leverage that in this highly specialized
leverage that in this highly specialized
leverage that in this highly specialized area but not only that is that she saw
area but not only that is that she saw
area but not only that is that she saw me at the complete person so I told her
me at the complete person so I told her
me at the complete person so I told her recently that she didn’t realize she had
recently that she didn’t realize she had
recently that she didn’t realize she had signaled something to me when she
signaled something to me when she
signaled something to me when she started speaking about the historically
started speaking about the historically
started speaking about the historically black colleges and universities in the
black colleges and universities in the
black colleges and universities in the area and just by that statement said to
area and just by that statement said to
area and just by that statement said to me
me
me recognized me as a black female that’s
recognized me as a black female that’s
recognized me as a black female that’s part of my whole identity and it didn’t
part of my whole identity and it didn’t
part of my whole identity and it didn’t have to be a big thing it’s just that
have to be a big thing it’s just that
have to be a big thing it’s just that she acknowledged in just a very subtle
she acknowledged in just a very subtle
she acknowledged in just a very subtle way seeing my complete self and that’s
way seeing my complete self and that’s
way seeing my complete self and that’s what I wanted to be able to bring to
what I wanted to be able to bring to
what I wanted to be able to bring to whatever environment is that someone saw
whatever environment is that someone saw
whatever environment is that someone saw me as a whole so bringing our full
me as a whole so bringing our full
me as a whole so bringing our full selves to areas what has been your
selves to areas what has been your
selves to areas what has been your experience then as a woman in a
experience then as a woman in a
experience then as a woman in a technical field well I may be an anomaly
technical field well I may be an anomaly
technical field well I may be an anomaly but I really have never experienced any
but I really have never experienced any
but I really have never experienced any kind of traumatic
kind of traumatic
kind of traumatic prejudice as being a woman in a
prejudice as being a woman in a
prejudice as being a woman in a technical field I see being a woman as
technical field I see being a woman as
technical field I see being a woman as an advantage being the only woman in the
an advantage being the only woman in the
an advantage being the only woman in the room which was a lot of my early career
room which was a lot of my early career
room which was a lot of my early career I saw that as advantage I stand out I’m
I saw that as advantage I stand out I’m
I saw that as advantage I stand out I’m unique I get noticed but the caveat here
unique I get noticed but the caveat here
unique I get noticed but the caveat here and I’m full of caveats is that you have
and I’m full of caveats is that you have
and I’m full of caveats is that you have to know what you’re talking about you
to know what you’re talking about you
to know what you’re talking about you have to be the expert in the room you
have to be the expert in the room you
have to be the expert in the room you have to be useful you have to be
have to be useful you have to be
have to be useful you have to be competent and I stress this to all my
competent and I stress this to all my
competent and I stress this to all my female students and I’ve had quite a few
female students and I’ve had quite a few
female students and I’ve had quite a few be the expert in the room hone your
be the expert in the room hone your
be the expert in the room hone your communication skills I think
communication skills I think
communication skills I think communication is probably the key in
communication is probably the key in
communication is probably the key in both industry academia in any field that
both industry academia in any field that
both industry academia in any field that you go into being able to communicate
you go into being able to communicate
you go into being able to communicate clearly and and you know having those
clearly and and you know having those
clearly and and you know having those ideas and being able to communicate
ideas and being able to communicate
ideas and being able to communicate clearly and certainly I had bosses that
clearly and certainly I had bosses that
clearly and certainly I had bosses that didn’t think women could do anything I
didn’t think women could do anything I
didn’t think women could do anything I had a boss one time that gave all the
had a boss one time that gave all the
had a boss one time that gave all the coding tests to the men and the women
coding tests to the men and the women
coding tests to the men and the women were writing the documentation which was
were writing the documentation which was
were writing the documentation which was a huge insult because I was a better
a huge insult because I was a better
a huge insult because I was a better coder than most of the men so what did i
coder than most of the men so what did i
coder than most of the men so what did i do I left
do I left
do I left don’t stay where you’re not appreciated
don’t stay where you’re not appreciated
don’t stay where you’re not appreciated go somewhere else go where you will
go somewhere else go where you will
go somewhere else go where you will thrive
thrive
thrive and and don’t let anybody ever
and and don’t let anybody ever
and and don’t let anybody ever compromise your morals your ethics or
compromise your morals your ethics or
compromise your morals your ethics or your ego and stand up for yourself can I
your ego and stand up for yourself can I
your ego and stand up for yourself can I get an amen
get an amen
get an amen thank you and I’ll bet you animation it
thank you and I’ll bet you animation it
thank you and I’ll bet you animation it wasn’t necessarily improved a few years
wasn’t necessarily improved a few years
wasn’t necessarily improved a few years just a few years later in that I
just a few years later in that I
just a few years later in that I absolutely found myself in all-male
absolutely found myself in all-male
absolutely found myself in all-male groups where I’m pretty sure I said that
groups where I’m pretty sure I said that
groups where I’m pretty sure I said that about 10 minutes ago right had that
about 10 minutes ago right had that
about 10 minutes ago right had that phenomenon happen but instead of
phenomenon happen but instead of
phenomenon happen but instead of marinating on it or dwelling on it I
marinating on it or dwelling on it I
marinating on it or dwelling on it I said that’s okay
said that’s okay
said that’s okay I am a specialist in this area and
I am a specialist in this area and
I am a specialist in this area and that’s where you’re going to pay
that’s where you’re going to pay
that’s where you’re going to pay attention and that’s where you’re going
attention and that’s where you’re going
attention and that’s where you’re going to have to listen and being able to
to have to listen and being able to
to have to listen and being able to shine in that expertise and resting on
shine in that expertise and resting on
shine in that expertise and resting on that so that is where I do excitement
that so that is where I do excitement
that so that is where I do excitement and focused on on that specialty so
and focused on on that specialty so
and focused on on that specialty so raising my hand being in front of the
raising my hand being in front of the
raising my hand being in front of the room asking those questions never afraid
room asking those questions never afraid
room asking those questions never afraid to do those things and be a standout so
to do those things and be a standout so
to do those things and be a standout so I’ve enjoyed being able to yes be that
I’ve enjoyed being able to yes be that
I’ve enjoyed being able to yes be that social knowledgeable expert in the room
social knowledgeable expert in the room
social knowledgeable expert in the room in those particular areas all right so
in those particular areas all right so
in those particular areas all right so we shift a little bit what is the
we shift a little bit what is the
we shift a little bit what is the hardest thing that you’ve had to do in
hardest thing that you’ve had to do in
hardest thing that you’ve had to do in your career well there’s a lot of hard
your career well there’s a lot of hard
your career well there’s a lot of hard things about working with people with
things about working with people with
things about working with people with terminal illnesses we work with these
terminal illnesses we work with these
terminal illnesses we work with these folks for years sometimes especially
folks for years sometimes especially
folks for years sometimes especially people with late stage ALS by the time
people with late stage ALS by the time
people with late stage ALS by the time they’re locked in and we get to them
they’re locked in and we get to them
they’re locked in and we get to them we’re giving them a lot of hope but also
we’re giving them a lot of hope but also
we’re giving them a lot of hope but also we lose them they have terminal
we lose them they have terminal
we lose them they have terminal illnesses and so we’ve lost every single
illnesses and so we’ve lost every single
illnesses and so we’ve lost every single patient we’ve ever worked with except
patient we’ve ever worked with except
patient we’ve ever worked with except one we have one that’s still still out
one we have one that’s still still out
one we have one that’s still still out there and he’s a force of nature but you
there and he’s a force of nature but you
there and he’s a force of nature but you get to know these people you get to know
get to know these people you get to know
get to know these people you get to know their families and their dear dear
their families and their dear dear
their families and their dear dear friends after we’ve worked with them and
friends after we’ve worked with them and
friends after we’ve worked with them and we lose every single one of them that’s
we lose every single one of them that’s
we lose every single one of them that’s been really hard the other side of this
been really hard the other side of this
been really hard the other side of this though as an educator is that students
though as an educator is that students
though as an educator is that students come to us they’re brilliant they’re
come to us they’re brilliant they’re
come to us they’re brilliant they’re really smart kids they come in they’ve
really smart kids they come in they’ve
really smart kids they come in they’ve been told their whole lives that they’re
been told their whole lives that they’re
been told their whole lives that they’re really smart and they need to get a PhD
really smart and they need to get a PhD
really smart and they need to get a PhD because you’re smart you need to get a
because you’re smart you need to get a
because you’re smart you need to get a PhD well research is not for everyone
PhD well research is not for everyone
PhD well research is not for everyone and there
and there
and there it sounds glamorous maybe I don’t know
it sounds glamorous maybe I don’t know
it sounds glamorous maybe I don’t know maybe not it sounds glamorous there’s a
maybe not it sounds glamorous there’s a
maybe not it sounds glamorous there’s a lot of tedium to research you’re reading
lot of tedium to research you’re reading
lot of tedium to research you’re reading 50 papers in your field by other people
50 papers in your field by other people
50 papers in your field by other people you are doing experiments that may not
you are doing experiments that may not
you are doing experiments that may not be so exciting you’re writing well into
be so exciting you’re writing well into
be so exciting you’re writing well into the night which we’re doing right now as
the night which we’re doing right now as
the night which we’re doing right now as a matter of fact and it’s just not
a matter of fact and it’s just not
a matter of fact and it’s just not always what everybody wants and so
always what everybody wants and so
always what everybody wants and so sitting down with a student who’s had
sitting down with a student who’s had
sitting down with a student who’s had their hopes and dreams shattered and
their hopes and dreams shattered and
their hopes and dreams shattered and they’re they’re just they’re just
they’re they’re just they’re just
they’re they’re just they’re just struggling and sitting down and saying
struggling and sitting down and saying
struggling and sitting down and saying this isn’t for you here’s another door
this isn’t for you here’s another door
this isn’t for you here’s another door that’s probably one of the hardest
that’s probably one of the hardest
that’s probably one of the hardest things we have to do what’s been hard
things we have to do what’s been hard
things we have to do what’s been hard about your career I categorize it in two
about your career I categorize it in two
about your career I categorize it in two ways both external and internal the
ways both external and internal the
ways both external and internal the external being that in the field work
external being that in the field work
external being that in the field work that we do and that we are literally
that we do and that we are literally
that we do and that we are literally rolling in with a bag of hope for these
rolling in with a bag of hope for these
rolling in with a bag of hope for these families that we are able to help unlock
families that we are able to help unlock
families that we are able to help unlock this family member to be able to
this family member to be able to
this family member to be able to communicate and and they know they
communicate and and they know they
communicate and and they know they believe that that person is inside there
believe that that person is inside there
believe that that person is inside there even when the other folks do not and
even when the other folks do not and
even when the other folks do not and we’re with them however this is
we’re with them however this is
we’re with them however this is experimental technology and so it
experimental technology and so it
experimental technology and so it doesn’t always work and that that can be
doesn’t always work and that that can be
doesn’t always work and that that can be devastating no matter what the
devastating no matter what the
devastating no matter what the disclaimers no matter what we say you
disclaimers no matter what we say you
disclaimers no matter what we say you know don’t pin your hopes on this this
know don’t pin your hopes on this this
know don’t pin your hopes on this this is still being worked out there’s still
is still being worked out there’s still
is still being worked out there’s still hope and so if we can’t get to the point
hope and so if we can’t get to the point
hope and so if we can’t get to the point of classifying the signal and getting a
of classifying the signal and getting a
of classifying the signal and getting a reliable method of control out of this
reliable method of control out of this
reliable method of control out of this that can be crushing yes now the
that can be crushing yes now the
that can be crushing yes now the internal part for me is owning my own
internal part for me is owning my own
internal part for me is owning my own successes and not letting anyone else’s
successes and not letting anyone else’s
successes and not letting anyone else’s narrative be placed upon me my example
narrative be placed upon me my example
narrative be placed upon me my example there is yes I did write the proposals
there is yes I did write the proposals
there is yes I did write the proposals thanks to melody and I did get a great
thanks to melody and I did get a great
thanks to melody and I did get a great federal fellowship out of that and it
federal fellowship out of that and it
federal fellowship out of that and it was one of I was the first one within my
was one of I was the first one within my
was one of I was the first one within my department to get that but not everybody
department to get that but not everybody
department to get that but not everybody was happy for me and so having a another
was happy for me and so having a another
was happy for me and so having a another professor and male professor say oh so
professor and male professor say oh so
professor and male professor say oh so you think you’re a diva now right
you think you’re a diva now right
you think you’re a diva now right I had him killed not really
I had him killed not really
I had him killed not really I really how do you how do you move
I really how do you how do you move
I really how do you how do you move beyond that and not own that narrative
beyond that and not own that narrative
beyond that and not own that narrative and say no this is fantastic
and say no this is fantastic
and say no this is fantastic and I do not accept what you’ve just
and I do not accept what you’ve just
and I do not accept what you’ve just said to me and further if you were
said to me and further if you were
said to me and further if you were everything that you want it to be you
everything that you want it to be you
everything that you want it to be you wouldn’t have said that to me
I love you guys so that’s been an
I love you guys so that’s been an ongoing challenge though right letting
ongoing challenge though right letting
ongoing challenge though right letting that light shine so we’ll end on this
that light shine so we’ll end on this
that light shine so we’ll end on this one what’s been the best thing oh I get
one what’s been the best thing oh I get
one what’s been the best thing oh I get to ask you the last question so
to ask you the last question so
to ask you the last question so continuing on what’s the best thing we
continuing on what’s the best thing we
continuing on what’s the best thing we just did the depressing part what’s the
just did the depressing part what’s the
just did the depressing part what’s the best thing about your work well you
best thing about your work well you
best thing about your work well you heard us talk about bringing in hope
heard us talk about bringing in hope
heard us talk about bringing in hope that’s a highlight absolutely a personal
that’s a highlight absolutely a personal
that’s a highlight absolutely a personal highlight is also that I feel that I’m
highlight is also that I feel that I’m
highlight is also that I feel that I’m able to be an accessible role model to
able to be an accessible role model to
able to be an accessible role model to folks to folks that look like me and
folks to folks that look like me and
folks to folks that look like me and maybe not as much like me that this
maybe not as much like me that this
maybe not as much like me that this woman this black woman and a very highly
woman this black woman and a very highly
woman this black woman and a very highly technical specialized area is competent
technical specialized area is competent
technical specialized area is competent knowledgeable and doing incredible
knowledgeable and doing incredible
knowledgeable and doing incredible incredible things and more importantly
incredible things and more importantly
incredible things and more importantly that I’ve got two little folks in my
that I’ve got two little folks in my
that I’ve got two little folks in my house that I’m able to show that to so
house that I’m able to show that to so
house that I’m able to show that to so I’ll have a billboard on the highway by
I’ll have a billboard on the highway by
I’ll have a billboard on the highway by the way but better than that my
the way but better than that my
the way but better than that my five-year-old daughter made a poster on
five-year-old daughter made a poster on
five-year-old daughter made a poster on her presentation day of me as an
her presentation day of me as an
her presentation day of me as an inventor
so absolutely that’s the best thing to
so absolutely that’s the best thing to show them they can be whatever they want
show them they can be whatever they want
show them they can be whatever they want to be so how about you well to wrap up
to be so how about you well to wrap up
to be so how about you well to wrap up in five seconds as many inventions as
in five seconds as many inventions as
in five seconds as many inventions as we’ve had as many patents as I have as
we’ve had as many patents as I have as
we’ve had as many patents as I have as many devices we’ve created that’s not
many devices we’ve created that’s not
many devices we’ve created that’s not really my product I finally realized
really my product I finally realized
really my product I finally realized this as I start contemplating retirement
this as I start contemplating retirement
this as I start contemplating retirement eventually my product that I’m most
eventually my product that I’m most
eventually my product that I’m most proud of is you to be able to create a
proud of is you to be able to create a
proud of is you to be able to create a new generation a brilliant confident
new generation a brilliant confident
new generation a brilliant confident competent researchers that are going to
competent researchers that are going to
competent researchers that are going to carry on and go beyond my wildest dreams
carry on and go beyond my wildest dreams
carry on and go beyond my wildest dreams to change the world
”
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