Season 2, Episode 8: Is Maurita Mussawwir a Hidden Figure?

Season 2, Episode 8 I welcome back to the studio Engineer Maurita Mussawwir!

Maurita is a native Detroit, a mother, a graduate of Central State University and an engineer. She has been in the field of engineering for more than 20 years. During this episode, she shares stories about her love of math and science. You see Black girls love math and science too. Maurita is living proof of that fact!

Of course, most of us learned this lesson a few years ago when the movie Hidden Figures came out. Maurita's love of math and science is what lead her to pursue an engineering degree from Central State University. Now more than 20 years later, she remains less than 5 Black women engineers to work within her department. Although she knew she was an outlier, Maurita didn't realize she was also a way maker.

In her years as an Engineer, she has been mentored by other Black women and has now been able to pay it forward by mentoring up and coming Black women in engineering. Maurita's main advice for others is to make sure that they join organizations that will support them professionally and personally. Because they will feel alone and that will chip away at their confidence.

As a proud alumna of Central State University, Maurita shares her experience as a student at a Historically Black University and College. She believes that much of her professional confidence came from attending a school that expected her to succeed. You will see Maurita sporting her maroon and gold around the city promoting both her alma mater as well as science and math education for Black girls.

Want more information about the groups and organizations Maurita and I discussed during this episode, click the links below:
National Society of Black Engineers
Central State University
DAPCEP
Black Girls Code