Nothing Stopping this JHUAN Scholar and Future Leader in Electrical Engineering from Kingston, Jamaica!
Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Desvaun Drummond attended the Wolmer’s Boys’ School from 2013-2020. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Howard University in May 2023. During his time at Howard, he developed a passion for semiconductor devices and quantum information systems by completing quantum research internships at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA, in addition to, the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan. During these internships, he gained experience in nanofabrication and material characterization.
“Shortly after graduating from Howard University, I travelled to Japan for 10 weeks as a member of the NSF Global Quantum Leap 2023 cohort, which was ran by the Cornell Nanoscale Science & Technology Facility. I was a guest researcher at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan, located approximately 50 kilometers from central Tokyo. The focus of my project was to investigate graphene as a potential replacement for silicon, which is widely used today as a semiconductor in electronics” ~ Drummond
In February 2023, Drummond was accepted to pursue his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) at the University of California, Berkeley starting in August 2023.
What JHUAN Means to Desvaun
“Before I came to Howard, I remember randomly finding out that there is support provided for Jamaicans through JHUAN. Studying internationally is an aspiration for many students but a lack of support/limited funding opportunities has always been a deterrent from pursuing an education abroad. I was fortunate to receive good financial aid from Howard but the continued cost of attendance to finish my degree was a concern for me. As a JHUAN 2022 scholar, I am grateful that JHUAN saw value in me and decided to accept me into the network of scholars. The financial support helped me complete my degree in three years and focus on my career goals. Although JHUAN offers great financial relief, being a scholar has also exposed me to a network of Jamaicans that are all successful in their various fields. When I was in Japan, I would have never imaged that I would see the chairman Mr. Don Christian while he was on a business trip. That moment showed me that although we all have connections to a small island, a Jamaican can be found globally within the JHUAN network, and they are all very supportive of everyone’s future goals and aspirations. I am forever grateful to now be a Howard and JHUAN alum. Despite moving to another institution to further my career, JHUAN will always be there to support if I ever need anything, and I hope I am able to reciprocate this support in the future.”
