Women Who Reign: Kendell Byrd

“Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself. Keep fighting for your dreams!” ~ Gabby Douglas
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Tell us about yourself along with a fun fact!
I am a senior at Swarthmore College studying Computer Science and Economics. I began my computer science and tech journey in high school though. During high school, we never had school on Wednesdays. Wednesdays were designated as “Inquiry Days” and were focused on doing research or independent studies. During my senior year, I got involved in a project focused on advancing communication for people with speech disabilities that was inspired by my principal who had ALS. This project focused on enabling people, who don’t have the use of their vocal boxes or hands and arms, to communicate more effectively. During this project, we experimented with EEG (electroencephalogram) technologies that focused on the study of brain wave and we started constructing an eye writer using a Playstation camera to track user eye movements. As a result of my involvement with this effort, I became more interested in technology and how it could be used to advance the human condition.

Additionally, on some of our Inquiry Days, my advisor, who also chaired the school’s entrepreneurship program, would take some students with him to an entrepreneurial incubator/hub based in Chicago called 1871. One…