Lehigh University:

Melodie Kent

Melodie Kent, a second-year mechanical engineering and biology graduate student from Houston Tx., is a natural born leader, but says that being involved in activities outside the classroom helped her to hone her leadership skills through experiencing different levels of responsibility.

Kent, after visiting Lehigh during its Multicultural Weekend and developing relationships with friends and administrators, spent her first four years pursuing and completing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Kent was ready to leave Lehigh, but had such a wonderful experience teaching local middle school students through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) grant, that she continued her work through the grant as a graduate student.  The NSF STEM grant works to foster greater interest in science, technology, engineering, and math among females and minorities, who are typically underrepresented in these fields.  Ultimately, the hope is that students involved in the program will pursue STEM fields in the future. Lehigh is one of only three universities in
Pennsylvania to receive such an award.

Being involved in student organizations helped Kent take a break from Lehigh’s strenuous academic schedule, while also helping her to keep focus on her studies.  “I was so overloaded with activities,” she says, “that I had to keep a strict schedule for making certain that my school work didn't suffer.”
 
Kent has been involved with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Gryphon Society, LU Finest Step Team, Hip/Hop Dance Team, Umoja House Reconstruction Team and the Graduate Student Society.

Kent says that she has become more assertive and that her perspective on life and various matters has changed drastically.  “I don't allow barriers to stop me from reaching goals,” she says, “if anything I have developed a network that can help me to cross many of those barriers.”

She also says that being involved in student organizations has helped to make her aware of and appreciate cultural differences of students, faculty and staff here at Lehigh.

The biggest lesson Kent has learned, she says is that the sky is not the limit; instead the universe is the limit.  “With drive, determination, and motivation,” says Kent, “all things are possible.”