What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

In my first job, I was an electrical engineer in the Advanced Engineering Department at General Motors - Packard Electric Division. In this position, I learned about electronic voice synthesis while working on a team that was investigating this technology for use in automobiles. It was exciting to perform research and modeling of new technologies that would assist in providing user-friendly technologies.

Who is your hero, mentor or person you most admire? Why?

The person I most admire is Mary McLeod Bethune. She was a visionary, humanitarian and educator. She emphasized that education to one's fullest capacity should be achieved. She believed people were fulfilled by a strong commitment, faith and dependence on God. These guiding principles and standards of perfection expressed in her life over 50 years ago are still pertinent today.

What are you most proud of (either professionally or personally)?

Professionally, I am most proud of spending over 20 years in areas of technical and scientific employment and study. During this time, I was able to author a few books, mentor numerous other professional women and students, and provide a model of which causes others to re-evaluate their stereotypes about women, specifically African-American women.

Personally, I am most proud of the relationships I have with my husband, daughter and extended family. Relationships of support and encouragement. These two things provide a caring and loving environment where you can grow personally, professionally, and can accomplish the unbelievable.

What advice would you give to young women who want to enter your field?

I would advise young women entering the field of engineering to have a plan and stick to it. Young women should not be discouraged by setbacks, but should be concerned about reaching milestones in their plans and not about the time it takes to reach those milestones. In other words, young women going into engineering must have tenacity, be willing to study hard, and not give up on their belief in attaining a degree and career in a technical field.

What is your favorite book?

I most enjoy books that are biographies which demonstrate triumph over insurmountable odds. These books demonstrate commitment to a belief or principle. A commitment that is not comprised regardless of the consequences or costs. A commitment that is not comprised regardless of the consequences or costs. An example, of such a book is "The Cost of Discipleship" by Bonhoeffer. It examines the cost of integrity and commitment to unpopular beliefs.

What is your favorite Web site?

I enjoy Web sites by ZDnet. These sites provide a store of knowledge. These sites utilize the Internet for communication of technical information and long-distance learning.

What do you see as the single most interesting element of your work?

Working with GTE-Internetworking, I find the technology and industry movement of providing services on the Internet most interesting. The burgeoning fields of information sharing, electronic commerce, and service delivery over the Internet are technical evolutions of which I am pleased to be a contributor.

What was your darkest moment (professionally) and what did you learn from it?

My darkest moment is a recurring one. It is the challenge of stereotypical minds to prove oneself, regardless of your credentials or records of accomplishment. Stereotypical minds are always looking for ways to challenge or raise doubts about women, minorities and their intellectual abilities.

What do you do to relax?

Family outings are a source of relaxation for me. I enjoy vacationing with my family to warm and sunny climates. These are opportunities to move outside of the confinements of an office and enjoy nature.