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THE TSU CoETCS 'MIGHTY 100' PROFILE OF EXCELLENCE #15. Rhonda Thomas Rhonda Thomas, a 30-year employee of the United States Government began her career as a participant in an engineering cooperative education program for the Department of the Navy. As a Tennessee State University graduate, her collegiate education was offset by actual hands on experience at the Navy’s testing facilities in Southern Maryland. This affirmative action program provided the much-needed financial resources that allowed her to reach her educational goals. Upon graduation, Rhonda conducted and managed major defense systems test and evaluation programs. Her career advanced rapidly as she took advantage of numerous accelerated and executive training opportunities. She is a certified PMI project management professional and currently serves as a project engineer for numerous aviation research and development initiatives at the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington D.C. Always conscious about giving back to others, Rhonda led many efforts to encourage youth to become their best. So in 2001, she founded a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, entitled LEAP Forward, Inc. Her corporation focuses on developing and exposing different math and science career options to disadvantaged youth as well as provides educational opportunities such as college and industry tours, scholarships, and engineering seminars. (www.leapforwardinc.org) Rhonda is a life member of the TSU Alumni Association (Engineering Chapter) and holds memberships with the NSBE, SWE, Eta Kappa Nu, NAACP, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Rhonda earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from TSU in 1980, a M.S. degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and later a M.S. degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Rhonda truly believes that you haven’t really lived in your purpose until you learn how to give of yourself to help others. She counts herself blessed and is thankful and grateful for her journey. Rhonda presently resides in Southern Maryland.
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In high school, Rhonda Thomas dreamed of pursuing English as a major in college and becoming a teacher. If it were not for the diligence of her guidance counselor, the late Wallace Leeper, who recognized her mathematical aptitude, the engineering world would never have been able to reap the rewards of her career as a project engineer.
