Gwendolyn Boyd has been a member of the Council since its inception in 1997, and was appointed as Chair by President Brody in September 2003. Ms. Boyd is an engineer and the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff at JHU’s Applied Physics Laboratory (APL).

Ms. Boyd graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in Mathematics and a double minor in Physics and Music from Alabama State University. Following this achievement, she received an M.S. degree in Mathematical Engineering from Yale University, and was the first African American female to receive such from this institution. With extensive community involvement, Ms. Boyd currently serves on the Advisory Council of the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Physical Science for Tuskegee University; is a member of the Society of Women Engineers and the Metropolitan Area Network of Minority Women in Science; and a mentor with the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County * a program which graduates the highest number of minority scholars in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology.

Ms. Boyd has received numerous awards and recognitions, some of which include: Who’s Who Among African Americans, 2004 Women’s Leadership Award from The Johns Hopkins University Women’s Network, and recognition by US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine as one of the country’s Most Distinguished Black College and University Graduates (2003).

Ms. Boyd emphasizes that the DLC both welcomes and needs input and feedback from the Johns Hopkins community in order to meet its mission.

Each April, the Council solicits nominations for new members by publishing articles in various University and Health System publications. Membership, which is for one or two years with a time commitment of four to six hours per month, requires previous experience in community activities, leadership capabilities, change management skills, a commitment to inclusion, and the ability to communicate across and about differences.

Members are appointed by University President William Brody to begin serving in September.