Year: 2013

Who: Dr. Johnetta MacCalla

Where:  Providence, Rhode Island

Dr. Johnetta MacCalla is a pioneering engineer, entrepreneur, and educator whose career spans over three decades in technology leadership and innovation. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, she earned her undergraduate degree in applied mathematics from Brown University and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. She later completed her Ph.D. in electrical, electronics, and communications engineering at the University of Southern California.

As co-founder and CEO of Zyrobotics, established in 2013, Dr. MacCalla has been at the forefront of developing inclusive STEM educational technologies. Her work focuses on creating interactive learning tools and games designed to meet the diverse needs of children, particularly those with differing abilities, aged three to seven. Under her leadership, Zyrobotics became the first recipient of a five-year, $25 million grant from Microsoft in 2018 to develop artificial intelligence aimed at enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Dr. MacCalla's extensive experience includes executive roles such as CEO of Automated Switching and Controls Inc., and President of Advanced Systems Concepts Inc., where she managed multimillion-dollar contracts with city and state transit authorities and the Department of Defense. Her project management expertise encompasses high-tech initiatives with organizations like NASA, the U.S. military, and the Port of Los Angeles.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Dr. MacCalla has contributed significantly to public service and academia. She served as Chair of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority Foundation, overseeing a $100 million endowment, and was a board member of the California High-Speed Rail Commission. Her academic roles include positions as an Associate Professor at California Polytechnic University in Pomona and Adjunct Professor at institutions such as Spelman College, the University of Southern California, and West Coast University in Los Angeles.

Sources:

Website:

• California Council on Science and Technology. (n.d.). Johnetta MacCalla. Retrieved from https://ccst.us/people/distinguished-experts/johnetta-maccalla/

• University of California, Santa Barbara, College of Engineering. (2023). Black History Month 2024. Retrieved from https://engineering.ucsb.edu/black-history-month-2024