Eileen Nicole Boyd
Never mind the exceptional family challenges. Never mind the academic rigors of a chemical engineering curriculum. Never mind the daily commute from campus to home and household responsibilities. Eileen Nicole Boyd never minded the obstacles of earning her undergraduate degree. She rose above them.
Fueled with steady family support and by "God’s grace," Boyd kept her eye on the prize, a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, which she’ll receive with honor, cum laude, from The University of Akron on May 7 at the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony.
Though Boyd's mother, Linda, resides in a health care facility due to physical setbacks, she implored her daughter to realize her potential. Boyd's father, Eddie, shared the conviction.
"They inspired me to strive to be all I could be," says Boyd. "They said, 'Don't focus on problems. Don't let them get in your way. Be your best.'"
Embracing her parents'advice, Boyd stayed the course. Along the way, she held two internships at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where she conducted research on epoxy composite properties and on battery-powered spacesuits. Boyd also completed an internship at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where she researched lunar equipment protection against blowing soil.
Experience and degree in hand, Boyd, who also earned minors in mathematics and chemistry, says she plans to pursue a career that combines aerospace and chemical engineering.
Where Boyd launches her career, she says, "depends on who gives me the opportunity."
Where Boyd lands with her career? The sky's the limit.
Media contact: Denise Henry, 330-972-6477 or henryd@.uakron.edu.