Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua: First Black Woman with a Ph.D. in Cybernetics

Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua, a Nigerian Engineering Professor, has made history by becoming the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in cybernetics from the University of Reading, UK. Guided by Prof. Kevin Warwick, a cybernetics pioneer, she explored how computers, electronics, and the human brain communicate.

Currently, Ekeng-Itua teaches at Ohlone College in Fremont, California, where she leads in Engineering and Engineering Technology. She reflects on her journey, emphasizing how overcoming challenges fueled her determination. Raised in Cross River, Nigeria, she pursued her passion for science despite cultural barriers against women in engineering. She earned her Bachelor’s in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri and her Master’s in Mobile and Satellite Communications Engineering from the University of Surrey, UK.

Beyond academics, Ekeng-Itua completed a course on disruptive strategies at Harvard University, receiving a Certificate in Disruptive Strategies. She advocates for women and girls in STEM globally, launching initiatives like the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Grant for Smart Advanced Manufacturing Education at Ohlone College.

Ekeng-Itua’s journey inspires aspiring women in STEM, demonstrating resilience and success in a male-dominated field.

Re-reported from the article originally published in She the People.