AMERICA | A young African-American Lady sets record at US university, becomes first-ever black woman to earn masters degree in Engineering.
A young African American woman named Asya Macon has made history as the first-ever Black woman to earn a master’s degree from the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, United States.
Asya completed her Master’s in Mechanized Systems Management with a minor in Animal Science, marking a significant milestone since 2017.
Asya’s academic journey began at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. Following her graduation, she had the opportunity to do an externship with the first African-American veterinarian she had ever met, which inspired her career aspirations.
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During her undergraduate studies, Asya presented her research findings at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Conference, where she was approached by a professor from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
After discussing her research and goals, the professor offered her a graduate research assistantship, which she eagerly accepted.
At the University of Nebraska, Asya delved into precision animal management research, focusing on the use of technology to monitor and manage the health of sows during their first week of lactation.
Her work aims to determine the potential of this technology for the future of swine production, an important aspect of agricultural innovation.
Beyond her research, Asya served as the president of the Biological Systems Engineering Graduate Student Association (BSE GSA). In this role, she organized community service events, hosted informational sessions, and fostered a sense of unity among graduate students.
“My main goal of BSE GSA is I wanted to give back to the community of Lincoln. I wanted to bring a community of graduate students together and let them know that you are not alone,” Asya said.
Additionally, Asya co-hosted the FarmBits Podcast, a platform dedicated to digital agriculture technologies. The podcast featured interviews with experts, farmers, and industry leaders, showcasing her passion for bridging academia and industry.
Transitioning from a historically Black college to a predominantly white institution was a significant adjustment for Asya. She acknowledged the challenges of being the only African-American person in her department but emphasized the support she received from the university community.
“Everyone wants to see me do well, and I appreciate that, especially being the only African American person in the whole department,” she said.
Asya also shared her struggles as a first-generation college student and credited her parents for instilling the value of education. “They’re really proud of me, and I’m doing all this to make my family proud and set a good example for my siblings,” she said.
In her final year, Asya faced an additional challenge when she was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy, a sleep disorder that impacted her physically, emotionally, and mentally. Despite these difficulties, she persevered.
Asya is now pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian at the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. She aims to become a small and large animal veterinarian and hopes to one day own her clinic.
Her goal is to inspire young Black girls who aspire to enter fields where representation is scarce. “I want to set an example. I want to be an additional representation of the 2% of Black veterinarians didn’t have anybody to look up to, so when a little Black girl sees me, she will know that she is not alone and that it is possible,” Macon said.
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