In this episode of Black. Girl. Iowa., I had the deep pleasure of speaking with someone who fully embodies what it means to beat the odds, build your own table, and bring others with you—Dr. Cimone Wright-Hamor. Her name belongs in history books, but more importantly, her story belongs in classrooms, boardrooms, and in the hearts of anyone who’s ever been told they weren’t enough.
Cimone is the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University in 2022. But her story begins far from accolades. It starts with struggle.
“I Failed Every Class—Except Math.”
Cimone doesn’t shy away from her academic challenges. In fact, she brings them front and center to let students and young people know: your beginning does not define your end. “I failed every class through sixth grade—except math.”
That statement alone silences a room. But what followed is what makes her story even more extraordinary. After years of academic failure, her Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program gave her a challenge: $20 for every A. That summer, she studied relentlessly—and came back with all As. “I went from straight Fs to straight As in one summer. I just needed someone to believe in me—and a reason to believe in myself.”
That moment set the stage for a future Cimone never let go of.
A Pivot in Purpose
Cimone originally planned to attend the University of Michigan on a full athletic scholarship for track and field. She was going to study accounting. But when her mother gave birth during her senior year, she made a selfless decision: to stay home in Iowa and help raise her baby brother.
“I had this vision of leaving, of independence. But my family needed me—and I knew I couldn’t build my future without honoring the people who helped get me here.”
She enrolled at Iowa State University. And what began as a practical decision soon evolved into a transformative journey. She found her footing in computer engineering, helped develop the campus’s now widely used MyState app, and emerged as a leader among her peers.
Rewriting the STEM Narrative
STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—has long been a space where Black women are underrepresented. Cimone didn’t just enter the space; she redefined it. “People think I’m not technical because I’m the woman in the room. But I’ve saved entire projects by thinking differently.”
She recalls solving a nine-month problem in three days by simply paying attention to what others overlooked. “You don’t always need new tools. You just need to check your own backyard first.” For Cimone, technical excellence is only part of the equation. The other part? Being self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and understanding how systems—and people—actually work.
Healing as a Leadership Skill
What sets Cimone apart is not just her intelligence—it’s her emotional clarity. Throughout our conversation, she returned to a consistent theme: healing is part of the work. “Miscommunication is often just unprocessed childhood trauma. You’re not mad at the person—you’re reacting to a wound you haven’t acknowledged.”
That level of insight doesn’t come from textbooks. It comes from doing the hard work of facing your past and choosing to grow from it. Cimone’s ability to reflect deeply is what makes her a powerful mentor. She’s walked through failure, grief, self-doubt, and burnout—and she’s come out more intentional every time.
“The pain teaches you how to see the world differently. I don’t just solve problems—I understand people.”
Planning Her Life Since Seventh Grade
It might sound unbelievable, but Cimone says she started planning her life as early as middle school. “I was very, very clear. I wrote it all down. I followed the plan.” She knew she wanted to study engineering, get a Ph.D., travel, and become a speaker. Now, she’s done all that—and she’s written a guide to help others do it too.
Her book, Manufactured Education: Leveraging College to Accelerate Your Career Without Selling Your Soul, is a direct call to action for students of color navigating higher ed. It unpacks what school doesn’t teach you—how to network, how to build real-world skills, and how to survive without losing your joy.
“People don’t get mad at what you tell them. They get mad at what you hide, and they have to figure out.”
Representation + Resilience = Revolutionary
Cimone’s presence in STEM, in higher education, and now in entrepreneurship is more than just impressive—it’s revolutionary. She didn’t just break barriers. She studied them. She documented them. And now, she’s teaching others how to climb over them, too. “I’m not here to be the only one. I’m here to be the first—and make sure I’m not the last.”
Whether she’s mentoring students, consulting tech companies, or speaking on stages across the country, Cimone shows up as her full self—Black, brilliant, intentional, and free.
Final Reflections
This episode reminded me that there is no one right path to success—only the one you create. Cimone didn’t let failure stop her. She didn’t let stereotypes box her in. And she didn’t let the absence of a roadmap keep her from building her own.
To every young Black girl wondering if she belongs in STEM… To every student who’s been told they’re not smart enough… To every woman wondering if it’s too late to start over—
Let Cimone’s story remind you:
✨ You are not behind. You are becoming.
✨ You don’t need permission to grow.
✨ You are allowed to change the plan—without changing the vision.
✨ Want More Black. Girl. Iowa.?
🎧 Listen: Episode 35 is streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube
📚 Read: Get Dr. Cimone’s book: Manufactured Education at cimonespeaks.com
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🛍 Shop: Visit the Black Girl Iowa Etsy Shop for podcast merch
🖤 Explore: More blog posts, reflections, and episode recaps at blackgirliowa.com
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