Dr. K. Renee Horton ('02 Electrical Engineering) is one of our Black History Month alumni spotlights, as her incredible accomplishments and drive exemplify how, with an LSU education, anything is possible. She graduated from LSU in 2002 with a BS in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Math, and in 2011 graduated from the University of Alabama with a PhD in Material Science with a concentration in Physics, becoming the first African American to graduate from the University in this area. Dr. Horton currently serves as the Space Launch System (SLS) Quality Engineer in the NASA Residential Management Office at Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans.
What is your favorite part about working for NASA?
Knowing each day I show up, I’m putting my footprints in space history.
We know you are involved in LSUTigerNation.com and serving as a mentor to other LSU alums. Do you have a mentor that helped you along the way?
I’ve had different mentors along the way. I honestly have to say Dr. Apriel Hodari while I was at the University of Alabama getting my graduate degree and my current mentor is Dr. Calvin Mackie.
Black History Month was created to give not only respect but also a voice to the Black community. Considering the state of our country, what does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month represents the compartmentalization of the achievements of African Americans. We should not be celebrated just 28 days in February but 365 days and history should be reflected such that our accomplishments, our suffrage and our adversity is part of history taught in schools.
What do you miss most about LSU?
I miss the lazy afternoons on the Parade Grounds and tailgating for LSU football games.