Professional Engineer

B.S., Civil Engineering 1960

Ms. Lelia M. Flagg is the first African-American female engineering graduate from the University of Missouri-Rolla. She received her B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1960. She credits Dr. J. Kent Roberts and Dr. Carlton with being her key supporters as an undergraduate. She also holds an M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California-Berkley, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of California. She worked in California for ten years before returning to Missouri. She has also worked for the University of Missouri-Rolla in several roles throughout the years.

Of all her accomplishments, she has said that she is most proud of raising her five children. They are Lelia Bourke of Kirkwood, Missouri, who has degrees in Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and who also has three children; Olivia, Joey and Noah; Alleda Flagg, who holds a B.S in Biology from Princeton and is currently pursuing a medical PhD from the University of Illinois-Chicago; Shawn Flagg, an English as a Second Language teacher in Brazil; Allen Flagg, a UMR alum with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1995 who is currently working on Omaha, Nebraska, and pursuing his masters degree; and Frederic Flagg, her oldest son, who is married and living in St. Louis, Missouri.