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When Karen Ivy, AB ’84, reminisces about her childhood, one recollection stands out: her father, Richard Daniels, then working at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, taking her and her two siblings to the air show. Her expression lights up with happiness as she remembers her awakening to the realm of aviation and being among the few Black youths present. In that moment, she understood that the sky was the limit for who she could aspire to become.
Ivy observed her father maneuver through the aviation sector during a period when racial obstacles were significantly more pronounced. She witnessed her mother, Peggy Daniels, step up within their church community by taking a prominent role in outreach communications. “My parents were my pillars,” Ivy notes. “They ensured I consistently looked beyond my surroundings.”
Even though Ivy was reserved, something ignited within her as she observed her mother assist others. As a teenager, she began aiding her church in supporting the homeless, assembling care packages and engaging with youth at the Annie Malone Children & Family Services Center.
“By the time I reached college, I had already started working in the community,” Ivy describes. “What WashU did was prepare me to engage with those who were different from me.”
With a passion to keep aiding others, Ivy aimed for medical school. However, a hospital position during her junior year revealed the stark realities of a medical career. “I worked with patients facing terminal diagnoses,” she recalls. “Losing them was heartbreaking.” The emotional burden prompted Ivy to change her major to applied mathematics, reflecting her father’s career in technology and aviation.
“WashU created a nurturing environment for me,” she asserts. “So many professors introduced me to the idea that once you complete your studies, you can impact countless lives around the globe.”
The late Florida Bosley, then assistant director of student educational services, is a notable mentor who significantly influenced Ivy’s outlook on career options and her aspiration to effect change in the world.
After graduation, Ivy relocated to Minnesota to join Honeywell’s aviation sector, followed by roles at 3M in information systems and later at Lockheed Martin. It was in these positions that she refined her leadership capabilities in senior management. Eventually, Ivy found her way to the University of Arizona Global Campus. Based in Colorado, she serves as assistant dean and professor of technology studies.
Ivy was appointed a U.S. Fulbright Specialist in 2023 and, in September 2024, received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden at the White House. Ivy attributes the recognition to her involvement with Shades of Blue, a nonprofit that motivates youth to explore careers in aerospace fields.
“Everything comes full circle, harking back to when I was a young girl and my dad crossed the line to take his daughters to air shows, showing us that you can become whatever you want,” Ivy reflects. “When you heed the role models that God has provided, you must honor them and strive to exceed that.”
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