Hi! My name is Gloria Odenyo, and I am extremely grateful to be a part of Baldwin Scholars!
I have lived in Clinton, Maryland my entire life with my three sisters and two brothers. I have always seen my family as my greatest blessing and love when we are all together. My parents emigrated from Kenya before I was born, and I love traveling there to visit the rest of my huge family every few years.
I am very thankful to have grown up in supportive environments that enabled me to see my wildest dreams as attainable, and I am passionate about using my resources to fight gender inequality and discrimination. In high school, I was in a science and technology program and also a member of a VEX Robotics team, where I developed a passion for STEM and supporting younger students (especially girls) from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in STEM fields. After interning with USDA at the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. during my senior year, I became passionate about water quality and sanitation, sustainability, and the intersection of the environment and engineering.
Since coming to Duke, my interests and academic passions have evolved everyday. I plan on studying civil and environmental engineering, and I am also interested in urban planning, international development, and global health. I am a part of Clark Scholars, the National Society of Black Engineers, and a manager for the Duke Women’s Basketball team. I am excited for my journey for the next few years and eager to be a Baldwin Scholar!