USM Alum Thompson Earns Black Engineer of the Year Award

Wed, 02/16/2022 - 11:29am | By: Van Arnold

University of Southern Mississippi alum, Dr. Brianna Thompson, is one of three researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) who have been chosen to receive a 2022 Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA).

The BEYA recognizes African American scientists and engineers around the country and the winners are leaders shaping the future of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as promoting diversity and inclusion in the STEM pipeline.

Thompson began her career at ERDC in ITL three years ago as a mathematician and was chosen for the BEYA Modern-Day Technology Leader Award. Her research in hypersonic systems evaluation and design and the coupling of fluid, thermal and structure models for computational simulation of hypersonic systems is making a difference and advancing the capabilities of the Army and the Department of Defense in developing state-of-the-art solutions to challenging problems.

In the announcement released by ERDC, Thompson says that her love for mathematics began as a child. She credits her parents for encouraging her to never stop learning.

“I have always liked figuring things out and I’ve always loved numbers,” said Thompson, who earned her doctorate degree in computational science at Southern Miss.

“I am always looking to improve,” Thompson said when she learned that she won the Modern-Day Technology Leader Award. “I was proud, but I know there is so much more to learn.”

Thompson offers simple advice to other African Americans who may be interested in a career in STEM.

“You don’t usually see people that look like you doing things like this, but once you get there it just opens up a whole new world. So, just go for it,” Thompson said. “I was fortunate enough to have a love for learning at a young age. If that’s inside of you and you have an interest in STEM – go for it! The sky is the limit.”

Thompson currently resides in Clinton, Miss.

All of the winners will be recognized at this year's BEYA STEM Global Competitiveness Conference, which will be held in Washington, D.C. February 17-19.