Meet Our Founder
Our Founder And Lead Computer
Scientist Jacquelyn Thomas
As an educator, innovator, and social entrepreneur, Jacquelyn is living her purpose-driven life. She is learning, teaching, and clearing a path for girls to create, develop, and lead.
She is the President and CEO of Girls Pursuing Science, and Executive Director and Co-Founder of Kids In Technology, Inc. Jacquelyn’s creative strategies to engage girls in STEAM are not only changing lives now but also for future generations.
She attributes her success to her mother and fathers’ stern parenting and passion for education during her childhood years. Education was paramount in the Thomas family household.
As a child, Jacquelyn grew up in Cleveland, Mississippi, and attended Saint Gabriel Catholic School (Mound Bayou, MS.) There, she started her first all-girls fifth-grade social club. She required paid membership, which included lots of girl talk and fun.
Today, that is known as building commination skills, interacting socially, and playing. These are now the key characteristics for the growth of children. From her elementary years to date, Jacquelyn has been engaging and leading with purpose.
Jacquelyn has received numerous awards for her philanthropic work in providing quality out-of-school time programs for underprovided youth. She has created innovative STEM curricula to engage minority students and developed comprehensive STEM and STEAM programs to bridge the achievement gap.
In 2002, she won the Small Business Person of the Year Award from the Small Business Administration. She also received the Best Community Connection Award in 2014 and 2015, (WTVI Charlotte STEM Awards). In June of 2015, she won the American Graduate Award and featured nationally on “American Graduate Day” Public Broadcasting Station, (PBS).
Jacquelyn holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Capital University (Columbus, Ohio), and is certified as a Robotic Facilitator/Instructor (Carnegie Melon Robotics Academy).
Jacquelyn relies on her faith in God, intuition, and resilience to explore the unknowns, discover opportunities, and excel through challenges.
She loves her supportive family, working out at the gym, and hanging out with her Sassy Sisters basketball and softball teammates!