Pond’s Pasture Resident Graduates with Ph.D. From University Of Nebraska-Lincoln


Lincoln, NE - Marcus L. Natta, the son of William Marcus Natta (1946-1992) and Gwendolyn J. F. Natta, graduated from the University of Nebraska¬¬-Lincoln (UNL) with a doctoral degree in chemical and materials engineering at an official hooding and commencement ceremony on Friday, August 15, 2008.

Dr. Natta, originally of Pond’s Pasture, Basseterre, is a graduate of the former Newtown Primary (now Tucker-Clarke Primary), Basseterre Junior High and Basseterre High School. He also graduated from the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College in 1998.

A former property valuations officer at Inland Revenue, Dr. Natta earned dual bachelor degrees in mathematics and physics from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. 

At Cameron, Dr. Natta was involved in several organizations, including the Student Government Association, the Student Activities Committee and the Aggie Ambassador program. He also helped to found the Caribbean student organization, Students of the Caribbean Alliance (SOCA).

While at UNL, Dr. Natta worked as a graduate research and teaching assistant. He also participated in a variety of campus activities. 

These included the Graduate Student Association for which he served as vice chair of external affairs, the Black Graduate Student Association, in which he was elected vice president and the University Graduate Council, to which a select group of students are nominated by faculty to serve as student representatives. 

Dr. Natta is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first Black Greek fraternity created to address the needs of college educated black men. He served as sergeant-at-arms for his local alum chapter, Beta Xi Lambda.

“This is a great moment. This journey has been long and turbulent but the satisfaction of completion is incomparable. 

Standing here today, with this accomplishment is an effort that included many people, family and friends and great teachers, like those I had in primary school that provided my foundation and my hunger for education and excellence,” Dr. Natta said.  

Dr. Natta was joined at his graduation ceremony by several family and friends, including his mother, his aunt Ms. Roselia A. Paul, his grandfather Mr. Gerald Paul and his wife, his brother William G. Natta, his cousin Mrs. Willa Tavernier and her husband Mr. H. Vincent Tavernier, and lifelong friend Ms. Melissa T. Williams. His mother is vice principal at Beach Allen Primary and his father was an accounts clerk at Jenkins Ltd. and a former Sergeant in the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force.