She was the first black person to receive a PhD in material science and engineering with a concentration in physics at the University of Alabama.

[6] She attended Louisiana State University for her undergraduate education, and received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 2002.

[1] Her thesis was titled "Microhardness, strength and strain field characterization of self-reacting friction stir and plug welds of dissimilar aluminum alloys," and her doctoral advisor was Mark Barkey.

[4] Horton was a NASA Space Launch System (SLS) Quality Engineer at Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she began working in 2012.

[3] The same year, she delivered the commencement address to the graduating class at her alma mater, Louisiana State University.