Dr. Valerie Bennett…
First Lady, Diva
and Builder of Robots!
Ruby Tuesdays was the place where I met this phenomenal First Lady. I was meeting with a respected Atlanta Pastor when he noticed her husband across the dining room. The two began to talk and Valerie and I met. Within minutes, we were exchanging phone numbers. After the first conversation, I knew she had a story to be told. Why? Because this First Lady, in addition to being a servant of God, a wife, a mother of two, an entrepreneur (Mary Kay) and a teacher—she builds robots! Dr. Valerie Bennett is the Head Coach of the Robotics Team at the prestigious Wetminster Schools in Atlanta, GA, where she teaches Physics and Honors Physics. This year, 2008, marked their first year at the Peachtree Regional. Among 45 teams, which included five Rookie Teams, The Westminster team was awarded the Rookie All-Star Award. This award will enable them to compete in the Championship in April 2008 at the Georgia Dome with 300 teams from around the world. Note: Dr. Valerie Bennett was awarded the 2006 Innovative Teacher Award by the Georgia Independent Schools Association. (Click here to view robot video.)Valerie is married to Dr. Harold V. Bennett, President Dean of the C.H. Mason Theological Seminary. They have been married for thirteen years and have a son, Quinton (eleven years old); and a daughter, Imani (seven years old). Valerie and her family attend the Temple of Faith Church of God in Christ, where Superintendent and First Administrative Assistant Thomas L. Frazier is the Pastor. At Temple, she has worked with Vacation Bible School, the Minister’s Wives Circle, tutored members of the Purity Class, and has worked on various committees such as Women’s Day and the Women’s Conference. Her hobbies include exercising and sewing. Dr. Valerie Bennett is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and the youngest of five children. She is a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School in northwest Atlanta, GA. She received a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. In 1993, she obtained her Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering; and in 1999, she received her Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Mechanical Engineering, both from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Upon entering graduate school at Georgia Tech, she worked with the MURI (Multi University Research Initiative) ONR (Office of Naval Research) project. After completing her doctoral studies at Georgia Tech, Dr. Bennett worked as a software consultant for Manhattan Associates. In May 2000, Dr. Bennett joined Morehouse College as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics where she taught Engineering and Physics courses as part of the Dual Degree Engineering Program. She was also a collaborator with the Nanocenter Project in conjunction with Rennsealer Polytechnic Institute where her project involved the determination of the thermodynamic properties of nanostructures and using molecular dynamics to analyze damping characteristics of carbon nanotubes. Dr. Bennett was also part of the planning committee for the Computational Science Workshops for Under-Represented Groups held at Louisiana State University and at the University of Southern California. While at Morehouse, she served as a faculty advisor for the National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Physics Students, and the Society of Women Engineers. She is a previous Woodrow Wilson Fellow in the Hard Sciences. Dr. Valerie Bennett loves God and desires to embody and exemplify the fullness of Pentecostalism in all aspects of her life. In addition to all of her responsibilities, she takes out time to read, pray and lay before the Lord. Her light shines brightly making it easy to share her faith with others. Dr. Valerie Bennett is a glowing example to women everywhere to make the most of life. The stellar work she does as Head Coach of the Westminster Robotics team as well as her many other attributes make her a First Lady Diva. In this season, we celebrate you, Dr. Valerie Bennett! This article expires 5/18/08
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by Tracey Smith
Dr. Valerie Bennett
(Left to right) Dr. Harold Bennett, Imani, Quinton and Dr. Valerie Bennett
Above: Photos of Dr. Valerie Bennett and the Westminster Robotics Team (2007-2008)
Magazine~Online
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