RICHMOND, Va. -- A recent electrical engineering graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University is inspiring women around the world after one of her social media posts went viral.
Kiana Jackson said it was not until she saw photos of each graduate in her school's online commencement that she realized she was one of just four women and one of two black women in her class.
"We are making our mark!" reads Jackson's post.
I am officially a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering!! 👩🏽🎓 I am 1 of 4 women in my graduating class and 1 of TWO black women! We are making our mark! #Classof2020 #WomenWhoEngineer #BlackGirlsGraduate pic.twitter.com/vm2WpfmzB8
— Kiana J. (@love_kianaaa) May 8, 2020
Jackson's social media post about the gender and racial disparity in her program was highlighted by E! News, which shared her picture on their Instagram account.
"Happy graduation, Kiana. Continue breaking barriers, shattering ceilings and making your mark," reads the post from the network.
That post received nearly 130,000 likes as well as comments from girls from numerous countries, including Nigeria and France.
"It just warmed my heart that I could help them feel better about themselves seeing that I'm in the position that I am right now," Jackson said. "And that they can one day know that, 'Hey, I can be an engineer.' Or if not an engineer, 'I will have a cap and gown on one day and I will graduate from college.'"
Jackson is gearing up for her July move to Detroit where she will to start her new job at General Motors.