Lily K. Donaldson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- American University (BS)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (MS)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (PhD) (current)
Lily K. Donaldson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1999 (age 25–26) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S |
| Education |
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| Occupation | Ph.D. Candidate |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Major competition | Miss United States 2022 (Winner) |
| Website | www |
Lily K. Donaldson (born 1999) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss United States 2022. She was the first Miss United States to visit all 50 states during her reign. Donaldson was crowned Miss United States 2022 in her hometown Memphis, Tennessee on October 16, 2022.
Donaldson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] She has a twin sister.[1] Donaldson attended McCordsville Elementary School in Indianapolis,[2] Newburgh Elementary School in Newburgh, Indiana,[3][4] Bon Lin Middle School in Bartlett, Tennessee,[5] and Bolton High School.[6][7] Donaldson participated in student theatre[1] and student journalism programs[8][9] while growing up. She participated in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.[9][10]
As of 2023, Donaldson is a Ph.D. candidate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute studying controlled environment agriculture[6][11] within a School of Architecture built ecologies program.[7][12][1] Donaldson has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from American University and a Master of Science in lighting from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[13] While at American University, she worked in vision scientist Arthur Shapiro's lab.[1]
STEM and arts education advocacy
Donaldson directs a nonprofit based in Memphis, Tennessee called Art Technically which promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and Arts education for disadvantaged students at Title 1 and rural K-12 schools.[14][6][7] She founded Art Technically after attending Title 1 schools with underserved arts and science programs.[7][15] Art Technically provides disadvantaged K-12 students with free STEM and Arts workshops,[1][16] free STEM and STEAM books,[17][18] STEM and Arts themed toy donations including teddy bears in scientist costumes, or "Science Bears",[19][20] and a program called Love Letters, where students learn to code Valentine's Day cards for Meals on Wheels programs.[17][12] Art Technically has also hosted a science-journalism program for students funded by Society for Science in 2022.[14][21]
In 2022, Donaldson wrote an article about her work with Art Technically for the United States Department of Education.[7] In 2023, Donaldson led an event with NASA where students at Brighton Elementary School in Tipton County, Tennessee asked questions of astronauts onboard the International Space Station.[22][23][24] In 2024, Donaldson gave a keynote on the importance of STEM education at the AI Expo for National Competitiveness in Washington, DC.[15]
