Erika Anderson (engineer)
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Erika Anderson | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 15, 1989 Atlanta, Georgia |
| Died | September 20, 2023 (aged 33) |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater | Spelman College and Georgia Instit |
| Occupation | mechanical engineer |
| Employer | ExxonMobil |
| Spouse | Chadwick Alexander Anderson |
| Parents |
|
Erika Nicole Anderson (December 15, 1989 – September 20, 2023)[1] was an American mechanical engineer who worked as a strategist and reliability engineer at ExxonMobil[2] She was a nationally known advocate for women of color in engineering and was recognized as an IF/THEN Ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science.[2][3][4]
Anderson grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and was an honors high school student who won many scholastic achievement awards. She earned bachelor's degrees in mathematics and mechanical engineering from Spelman College and Georgia Institute of Technology, respectively. Anderson was passionate about school and worked hard to build community while in college. At Spelman, she served as the academic excellence chair for her school's National Society of Black Engineers chapter. Over her college summers, Anderson interned at NASA and GE Aviation, gaining real industry experience that helped her decide what career she was most interested in.[2]
Career
In July 2022, Anderson accepted a position as a reliability engineer with Georgia-Pacific and returned to Georgia.[5] Anderson's interest in math prompted her to pursue a career as an engineer, something she originally believed was a "train driver" during her senior year of high school.[3] Following graduation, she obtained a job at ExxonMobil in Texas. After a few years, she returned to school to earn a master's degree in data analytics from Texas A&M University.
Continuing at ExxonMobil, she led a team of unit inspectors, process operators, and mechanical and chemical engineers in ensuring the quality and safety of refinery equipment in Beaumont, Texas. Her leadership involved ensuring the equipment was usable and effectively produced end products like gasoline, waxes, diesel, plastic, and asphalt from crude oil.[4]