Alumnus L’Netta Moss
Selected Among Rising Stars of TechnologyL’Netta Moss keeps
her bags packed and her engineering skills sharp in a budding career in
automotive manufacturing for General Motors Corporation that’s been
recognized with the Rising Star of Technology Award from the Women of
Color Magazine.
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| Rising Star: Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology alumnus L'Netta Moss received the Rising Star of
Technology Award from the Women of Color Magazine and was
recognized at the National Women of Color Technology Awards
Conference. Moss is a manufacturing engineering for General
Motors Corporation. |
The award celebrates the accomplishments of women of color who are
early in their careers (under age 30) but who, through significant
accomplishments in their field, have already made a great impact on
shaping technology for the future. The honor also encourages young
people -- particularly young girls -- to reach their potential. Winners
are selected based on their professional accomplishments, job
responsibilities and contributions to their particular field.
Moss, a 2000 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology electrical
engineering graduate, was recognized at the National Women of Color
Technology Awards Conference.
“It’s a great compliment and very rewarding,” admits the Gary, Ind.,
native. “The award is a great stepping stone that opened my eyes to
inspirational women engineers and technology leaders. It was very
empowering, boosted my self-image and developed my desire to do even
more.”
Moss serves as manufacturing engineer at GM’s Tech Center in Pontiac,
Mich. However, she has spent most of her six years shuttling to work
assignments at GM production plants as far away as Korea, Mexico and
Canada, or as close as Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. She started a new
project on Sept. 1 at GM’s Ramos Arizpe assembly plant near Saltillo,
Mexico.
“I have progressed from concentrating in systems for the wheel well
of a vehicle to now having responsibility over the entire car. That’s
very satisfying, but keeps me very busy,” Moss stated during a recent
trip to Rose-Hulman. She talked to members of this year’s freshman class
during a workshop, organized by the college’s Diversity Council, which
was part of new student orientation program.
Moss urged the students to learn from each other, seize opportunities
to know people from different cultures and come out of their “comfort
zone.”
“Today’s engineers work in a diverse environment, coming in contact
every day with people that have differences. People have to appreciate
those differences,” she stated. For Moss, she didn’t know anyone in
Korea and didn’t know the language when she was assigned to work in the
country.
“I survived by getting to know the people. And, of course, the
engineering and physics aspects of a project were nearly the same. The
elements of engineering are a universal language,” Moss said. “You sit
in a meeting and understand everyone, how different cultures relate and
how you’re able to adapt to that environment.”
During her own days at Rose-Hulman, Moss served as president of the
National Society of Black Engineers, was an officer in the Student
Activities Board and member of the student chapter of the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers. She continues to be involved in
volunteer activities during her professional career, whenever possible,
by serving as a mentor for a high school FIRST Robotics and middle
school Lego League competition teams, and spends one day each week
encouraging school children, especial female students, toward careers in
engineering, science and technology. She also serves as a liaison to
NSBE’s national organization.
“I like to give and receive. I see a benefit and there’s a personal
satisfaction in giving back. You can never share enough,” she said.
