In December 2023, when Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy alum Dominique James stood on stage to receive her doctoral hood, she became the first Black student to earn a doctorate in biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas.
For the Class of 2015 valedictorian, that moment encapsulated years of curiosity, discovery, and commitment. Before her research in advanced ultrasound imaging and breast cancer treatments, James was a highly involved Bryan Adams student. From serving as captain of the Belles drill team to competing in Academic Decathlon and Destination Imagination, her high school years were packed.
It was in those extracurriculars and advanced placement classes where her passion for problem-solving and leadership took root.
“In Destination Imagination, we focused a lot on engineering tasks, which helped me start thinking more creatively about problem-solving,” James said. “And with drill team, it really helped me become more confident doing things I wasn’t used to. When I had to present my research later on in life, I wasn’t nervous because I was used to performing on a stage.”
As the first in her immediate family to attend and graduate from college, navigating the higher education landscape was unfamiliar.
Through the help of the Academic Success Program, James found the guidance needed to prepare college applications, polish essays, and understand financial aid.
“My priority was Texas schools because in the top 10%, you automatically get accepted,” she said. “But my advisor taught me to put a few schools outside Texas and helped me find them, including the University of Rochester.”
Her dad had always joked that she would find a way to go to college for free. When she was awarded the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship, those words became true. The scholarship opened doors beyond financial constraints, allowing her to earn her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering at the University of Rochester before returning home to Texas for graduate school.
Driven by a desire to remain close to her family, James selected the University of Texas at Dallas for her doctoral studies, focusing her biomedical engineering research on improving ultrasound imaging technologies for breast cancer.
“It was eye-opening to realize I was still the first Black PhD graduate,” James said. “I take it with pride because at least I set the path for other students to know that it’s possible. As long as you have support along the way, it’s achievable.”
Now, James is applying her analytical skills in a different area, patent examination. Working on the government side, she reviews complex technological inventions, ranging from medical devices to automotive advancements, ensuring inventors receive proper legal protection for their groundbreaking work.
She continues to keep her eyes set on growth, considering future endeavors in quality regulatory affairs or even law school. Reflecting on her journey from Bryan Adams to making history at UTD, James views her success as a shared victory with her family.
“My parents are immigrants, so making them proud and ensuring their sacrifices weren’t for nothing has always been ingrained in me,” she said. “Watching everything come together is just motivation to keep going.”