Dr. Keena Byrd is currently a Sr. User Experience Researcher at Facebook, Inc. Her current work focuses on building enterprise tools utilizing Machine Learning and other technologies to augment human capacities and minimize bias.   

Dr. Byrd earned her PhD in Engineering from Purdue University and her bachelor’s and a master’s degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. During her graduate work, she was awarded the National Space Grant Foundation Fellowship and conducted research for her graduate work at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).   

Prior to joining Facebook, Inc, Dr. Byrd worked at Intel Corporation where she focused on Computer Vision Artificial Intelligence research and was a subject matter expert in her field of Cognitive Engineering. During her time at Intel Corp, she received several Division Recognition Awards; used her platform as an outspoken STEM advocate to raise $30k+ for an Intel sponsored endowment for Ohio State University’s Minority Engineering Program; and was awarded the Outstanding Member Award by the Intel Network of African-Americans.  

Dr. Byrd is the most recent recipient of the “Open Door Award” for her philanthropic work supporting MOMA’s house, a minority owned non-profit designed to support victims of domestic violence in Phoenix, Arizona.  She is a Life Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc; She is the current Vice President of the North Carolina A&T State University Phoenix Alumni Chapter and spearheads the chapter’s community outreach and giving and was recognized as one of the 2019 NCA&T Top Young Alumni Donors. 

Dr. Keena Byrd enjoys dedicating her time to non-profit programs that support underrepresented groups and individuals and was a charter board member spearheading the development of “We Sow Seeds” a Community Garden in Mesa Arizona.   

When Dr. Byrd is not doing non-profit work she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Dr. Keena Byrd was born and raised in Prince George’s County Maryland and currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.