Dr. Carlotta Berry of Neighborhood on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Carlotta Berry. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Carlotta, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Since I am a professor who does research in engineering education, robotics education, human-robot interaction and diversifying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. My work is very intersectional where my teaching, research and service to the community all intersect, overlap and inform each other. However, with that being said what really inspires me and brings me joy outside of my regular 9 to 5 professor job is my work with children’s books, romance novels, and social media content. My children’s books about kids using, building, programming, and fixing robots to encourage creativity, innovation, curiosity, and critical thinking in STEM. My romance novels are about Black Women in STEM experiences love, success and challenges in their career and love life to get older girls inspired to do STEM because representation matters. It is my hope to also eventually write middle grade STEM and robotics books such as comics or manga or graphic novels. I also get joy from my social media content such as my Youtube channel with engineering professor advice, what do you know about, AI avatar robot tutorials, and hip hop robot slam poetry.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Carlotta A. Berry is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and the Dr. Lawrence J. Giacoletto Endowed Chair for Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Berry is the first Black woman to earn tenure, full professor and endowed chairship at Rose-Hulman.
She has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Spelman College, bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, master’s in electrical engineering from Wayne State University, and PhD from Vanderbilt University. Her research interests are in robotics education, interface design, human-robot interaction, and increasing historically marginalized and minoritized populations in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields. She is author of the textbook, “Mobile Robotics for Multidisciplinary Study” and editor for “Mitigating Bias in Machine Learning”.
She has a special passion for diversifying the engineering profession by encouraging more women, marginalized and minoritized populations to pursue STEM degrees. In her role as the 2024 inaugural visiting scientist at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, she was able to execute her mission and promote her vision for STEM. In 2020, she worked with colleagues around the world to start two nonprofit organizations, Black In Engineering and Black In Robotics. They have a mission to bring awareness to systemic racism and inequity in STEM, build community, advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and connect with allies and sponsors. Dr. Berry also founded her business, NoireSTEMinist educational consulting, in 2020. Through her organization she does speaking engagements, workshops, consulting, performs hip hop slam poetry, gives engineering professor advice and engineering professor quizzes on social media. She also sells robots, children’s books, romance novels, and other merchandise to promote diversity in STEM as part of her mission to “Make STEM and robotics for the streets”.
Her strong longstanding service record has garnered her multiple accolades and awards including 2024 Know Your Value Forbes 50 over 50 in Innovation, 2024 ECEDHA Community Development Award, ASEE Fellow, IEEE Senior Member, 2023 IEEE Undergraduate Teaching Award, 2023 Hopper Celebration Abie award for Educational Innovation award, 2022 Society of Women Engineers Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, 2022 Distinguished Educator Award from the American Society of Engineering Education Electrical and Computer Engineering Division, 2022 Open Source Hardware Trailblazer Fellow, 2021 TechPoint Foundation for Youth Bridge Builder award, 2018 Women and Hi Tech Leading Light You Inspire Me Award and Insight Into Diversity Inspiring Women in STEM.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before I was an engineering professor and NoireSTEMinist, I was simply a little girl who loved to play with her Barbie dolls and to teach them school and create outfits for them out of yarn or fabric. It was this curious and creative nature such as playing with Tinker Toys which led to my passion about becoming a teacher because of my love for school, learning, math and science.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Keep going. Hold your head up—you are worth it.

My journey into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) wasn’t always easy. In the fifth year of my dual degree program, my grades were struggling, I ran out of money and financial aid, and I was working up to three jobs at a time. That season was tough. I wanted to quit so many times, and honestly, if I had, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Now, I can truly say I love what I do. Being an engineering professor brings me joy because I know I’m living out my purpose. Every day isn’t easy, but I get to use my spiritual gifts in ways that make a difference—and that keeps me going.

The second time I felt like quitting came later, when I had jobs—first as an engineer and later as a professor—that didn’t line up with my values, work ethic, or mission. This time, I did walk away. And leaving opened the door to places where my work was valued, where I was valued, and where I could operate in a spirit of excellence.

So no matter what, keep going. Don’t be afraid to step away from what doesn’t serve you, and don’t give up on the dreams that do.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me isn’t always the real me—because I’m an introvert. Honestly, I’d be perfectly happy spending my evenings on the couch cross-stitching, crocheting, or reading romance novels.

But part of my purpose is to bring STEM to the streets, and that means showing up. It means having an active social media presence, sharing videos of myself building and programming robots, and teaching the broader community about robotics and engineering.

Still, there’s one part of my public persona that is absolutely the real me: my passion for diversity in STEM, for social justice, and for creating spaces of equity and inclusion. I want to be approachable, fair, and kind—because that’s how I represent both the engineering academy and myself.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Working and focus full time on writing books, doing robotics workshop, launching my diverse cross stitch building. Loving on all my family and friends and traveling.

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