FVSU Alumna Receives Office of Secretary of Defense Award
FVSU Alumna, ZacLyn Miller, received the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Award for Outstanding Achievement. This coveted honor is a top, national-level civilian award from OSD. ZacLyn received the award for her executive leadership of an array of Defense matters. ZacLyn has served for nearly two decades as an engineer on scientific and technical matters pertaining to national security. ZacLyn’s expertise led to her briefing in The White House, and she surpassed traditional networks and expectations to become the first Black woman and youngest Chief in the science and technology directorate of her organization.
Fort Valley State is deeply woven into the fabric of ZacLyn’s story. She began her education at Fort Valley State College as a Baby Wildcat in the Pre-K program under the direction of Dr. Dorothy Conteh. As a young piano student, she played a piano selection at one of the centennial events when the college became a university. As a rising eighth grader, she joined the Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Academy (MSEA), the pre-college program of the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP). Upon completing MSEA and graduating from Macon County High School, ZacLyn was awarded the dual-degree CDEP scholarship. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from FVSU and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Ga Tech). Full circle, when ZacLyn graduated from FVSU, Dr. Conteh was on stage as the Vice President of Academic Affairs and extended a hug to ZacLyn. Upon graduation from Ga Tech, ZacLyn immediately began her career in public service. She later earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
ZacLyn credits FVSU, specifically MSEA and CDEP, for providing the scholarship, internships, and foundational hard and soft skills that leveled the playing field upon entering the competitive workforce and allowed her to accelerate to heights beyond expectations, especially as a Black woman in engineering. ZacLyn extends heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Isaac J. Crumbly for his visionary leadership to establish and maintain the MSEA and CDEP programs; Dr. Jackie Hodges for helping hone her gift of speaking and being an excellent model of a Black woman in leadership as the Assistant Director of MSEA and CDEP; and the entire MSEA and CDEP staff for their hard work and support over the years. She also credits professors, such as the late Dr. Fariborz Asadian, for dedicated instruction to prepare students for the next chapter after FVSU. She credits Dr. Asadian for easing her nerves and giving her the confidence to go to Ga Tech when he said, "We (FVSU) have prepared you for Ga Tech." "Dr. Asadian was a thorough teacher and hard tester. He taught me Cal II, Cal III, Differential Equations, and Advanced Calculus. He knew my abilities and I trusted his counsel. He was so right! FVSU prepared me very well for Ga Tech and beyond."
"HBCUs, like FVSU, are where Calculus and Culture combine to prepare students for the brightest future."–ZacLyn Miller
