26-year-old Nigerian woman becomes the first African-American to bag PhD in Aerospace Engineering at US university

Dr. Wendy Okolo

An exceptional Nigerian-American woman named Wendy Okolo has emerged as the first-ever black woman that will earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas, United States.

Wendy Okolo achieved this outstanding at the age of 26. She started her higher education in the United States after being accepted to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas.

Wendy excelled in her undergraduate program and finally earned a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. She proceeded to enrol on a PhD program at the University of Texas.

5 years after her Bachelor’s degree, she emerged as the first-ever black woman to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas, Arlington, United States. Dr Wendy Okolo has since excelled as an Aerospace Engineer, winning several awards.

The Government of Nigeria celebrated her feat, describing her as a good ambassador of Nigeria. In 2022, Dr Wendy Okolo won an award of Excellence at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States. She won the NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal and shared it on her Instagram.

“Soooo I got a medal?!?! The NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal! Super thankful for this award. Being recognized by the most brilliant peers at the coolest place to work is an honor I do not take for granted,” she said.