User:Kissid/K. Renee Horton

Lead
K. Renee Horton born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. on August 15, 1972. As a child, she hoped to become an astronaut, She graduated from high school at 16. and at 17 tried to join the LSU’s Air Force ROTC Program but due to a hearing impairment was not able to pursue it as a career. From this inspiration, she decided to pursue science.

Article body
She attended Louisiana State University for her undergraduate education, and received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 2002. She then attended the University of Alabama and received a PhD in material science and engineering with a concentration in physics in 2011. Horton was the first Black person to receive a degree in this discipline from the University of Alabama. Her thesis was titled "Microhardness, strength and strain field characterization of self-reacting friction stir and plug welds of dissimilar aluminum alloys," and her doctoral advisor was Mark Barkey. While at University of Alabama, she was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She began working at NASA as a student, from 2009–2011. As a student, Horton also worked at the Center for Materials for Information Technology at the University of Alabama, where as part of her work she led an outreach program for children in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Dr. Horton's academic journey is a testament to her dedication and achievements in the field of engineering. Her groundbreaking research and leadership roles at institutions such as NASA and the University of Alabama highlight her commitment to both academic excellence and community outreach. Through her involvement in organizations like the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Dr. Horton has also demonstrated her passion for fostering diversity and inclusion in STEM fields.

Career

Horton is a NASA Space Launch System (SLS) Quality Engineer at Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she began working in 2012. There, she works on the rocket that will send Artemis astronauts and cargo to the Moon. As of 2022, she was also an airworthiness deputy for the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstrator Project at NASA.

In 2016, Horton was elected president of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP). Upon election, she became the second woman to hold the role of president. In 2017, she was elected a fellow of the NSBP. She has also served on the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) Women in Physics Working Group and the Edward Bouchet Abdus Salam Institute (EBASI) Executive Body. The same year, she delivered the commencement address to the graduating class at her alma mater, Louisiana State University. She is also a board member of Lighthouse Louisiana, which focuses on empowering individuals with disabilities.

Horton is the founder of Unapologetically Being, Inc., a nonprofit that supports advocacy and mentoring in STEM.