Toyketa Horne is a native of Shubuta, MS and a 2009 graduate of Alcorn State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. While attending ASU, she was a part of several campus organizations such as: Beta Kappa Chi Honor Society, Alpha Chi Sigma Professional Chemistry Fraternity, Khem Club, and Tri-Beta. In addition, she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. where she held the offices of Vice President and President. She had the distinction of participating in various internships and co-op opportunities ranging from research at national laboratories to working experiences at an industrial site facility.
Toyketa went on to further her education by obtaining a Masters of Science degree in Chemistry from Jackson State University. She completed her thesis studies on “The investigation of newly synthesized acyclic and macrocyclic receptors and their binding abilities towards anionic systems using various analytical methods”. Her research was published in several international science journals. Subsequently, she was hired as the Laboratory Coordinator for JSU’s Department of Chemistry.
After working for two years at JSU, Toyketa accepted a Nuclear Chemistry Technician position at Southern Company’s Alvin A. Vogtle Nuclear Power Generating Plant in Waynesboro, Georgia. She was one of nine individuals chosen in the first cohort of Chemistry Technicians at the newly designed Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plant. Once completed, the Vogtle site is slated be the largest nuclear power generation site in the nation. Toyketa is presently working as a Sr. Nuclear Chemistry Technician where she is responsible for testing, analyzing and maintaining various chemistry parameters associated with the construction and operation of systems at the plant site.