(Jackson, Miss.) JSU alumna Karmyn Norwood is investing $50,000 over the next five years towards a personal endowment to benefit students in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Her passion for giving began with a $2,000 scholarship from the Beta Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. while matriculating as an undergraduate at Jackson State.
“When I think about the impact that it had on my life, I want to be in a position where I can help students who just need a little bit of help to enter a university and be successful,” said Norwood. “It not only makes me feel good that I am impacting a neighbor or my community, but it makes you feel good as a human being. This helps us to continue to have growth in our community.”
She is the site vice president for the Air Mobility and Maritime Missions (AMMM) Line of Business (LOB) for Lockheed Martin Corporation. In this capacity, she is responsible for the Marietta site operations enabling program execution of multi-billion dollar platforms.
As a STEM advocate, Norwood says one of the ways that she contributes to her alma mater is by being an executive sponsor for JSU. “Lockheed Martin has 100,000 employees worldwide, 50,000 of those employees are scientists. I want to invest in our future workforce by assisting students from JSU, ensuring that a pipeline of diverse talent is developed through STEM initiatives.”
Norwood’s 20-year career, including time with the U.S. government has assisted her commitment to being an activist for diversity in the corporate America environment.
“There is real value in having a diverse population because it brings people from all walks of life together—once that happens, a diverse dialogue begins and it drives innovation. Diversity ultimately prepares you for who you will interface with in the workforce and a sense of what the real world looks like.”
As a Lockheed Martin executive, Norwood says it is vital that her company continues to partner with JSU. “I want to structure that engagement so we can get the most bang for our buck. JSU is a great place for Lockheed Martin to recruit talent.”