Raised by her single father, who has been her biggest supporter despite falling on hard times in seeking employment, Jeanette sought academic excellence and was described by a teacher as “the most gifted, determined, articulate, and inquisitive student I have ever met in ten years of teaching.”
In addition to graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, she demonstrated superior literacy skills through a litany of writing and reading challenges, writing a 45-page paper about the fall of public housing in Chicago attributed to poor planning. Jeanette draws strength and inspiration from her aunt to be a strong advocate for African-American women in STEM, where those from her own background are highly under-represented. Pursuing a career in electrical engineering to help developing countries solve issues relating to infrastructure and growth, she strives to earn the title of “technical humanitarian”. In high school, she served as Student Council president, vice president of the International Art Club, and Student Council social justice executive.
