Happy Black History Month 2020 ✨✊🏾
Every day this month I’ll be highlighting the accomplishments of a different Black female scientist, engineer, inventor, or STEM educator 👩🏾🏫
We are here. We’ve been here. We belong here. 👩🏾🔬👩🏿🏫👩🏽💻👩🏾🎓👩🏽🏭
#BlackWomenInSTEM #BlackAndSTEM #BHM2020
Every day this month I’ll be highlighting the accomplishments of a different Black female scientist, engineer, inventor, or STEM educator 👩🏾🏫
We are here. We’ve been here. We belong here. 👩🏾🔬👩🏿🏫👩🏽💻👩🏾🎓👩🏽🏭
#BlackWomenInSTEM #BlackAndSTEM #BHM2020
Marie M. Daly, PhD
•1947 - first Black woman to receive a chemistry PhD in the U.S! 👩🏽🔬
•research: hypertension & artery blockage -> better understand heart attacks
•tenured professor at Albert Einstein
•est. scholarship for Af-Am science students at Queens College 👨🏾🎓👩🏾🎓
•1947 - first Black woman to receive a chemistry PhD in the U.S! 👩🏽🔬
•research: hypertension & artery blockage -> better understand heart attacks
•tenured professor at Albert Einstein
•est. scholarship for Af-Am science students at Queens College 👨🏾🎓👩🏾🎓
Shirley Ann Jackson, PhD
•1973 - first Af-Am woman to receive a PhD from MIT & second Af-Am woman to obtain a physics PhD in the U.S.!
•1999 - first woman & first Af-Am president of Reselaer Polytechnic Inst.
•2016 - awarded National Medal of Science by President Obama 🏅
•1973 - first Af-Am woman to receive a PhD from MIT & second Af-Am woman to obtain a physics PhD in the U.S.!
•1999 - first woman & first Af-Am president of Reselaer Polytechnic Inst.
•2016 - awarded National Medal of Science by President Obama 🏅
Euphemia Lofton Haynes, PhD
•1943 - first Black woman to earn a PhD in mathematics 🧮
•taught all levels from K-12 math to being a professor and chair at D.C.’s Teacher College
•strong advocate for Black & poor students, better schools, and fought against racial segregation
•1943 - first Black woman to earn a PhD in mathematics 🧮
•taught all levels from K-12 math to being a professor and chair at D.C.’s Teacher College
•strong advocate for Black & poor students, better schools, and fought against racial segregation
Patricia Bath, MD
•ophthalmologist & laser scientist #HU ✊🏾
•1973 - first Af-Am to complete an opht. residency
•co-founded the American Inst. for Prevention of Blindness
•invented Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment 👁
•1st Black female doctor to obtain a medical patent
•ophthalmologist & laser scientist #HU ✊🏾
•1973 - first Af-Am to complete an opht. residency
•co-founded the American Inst. for Prevention of Blindness
•invented Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment 👁
•1st Black female doctor to obtain a medical patent
Alice Ball, M.S.
•1915 - 1st woman & 1st Af-Am to obtain a masters & be a chem. prof. at Univ. of Hawaii
•invented 1st injectable leprosy treatment
•died at 24 -> male prof. stole research & named her discovery after him 🙄
•1970s a female prof. at UoH restored Ball’s legacy
•1915 - 1st woman & 1st Af-Am to obtain a masters & be a chem. prof. at Univ. of Hawaii
•invented 1st injectable leprosy treatment
•died at 24 -> male prof. stole research & named her discovery after him 🙄
•1970s a female prof. at UoH restored Ball’s legacy
Gladys West, PhD
•1956 - second Black woman to work at U.S Weapons Naval Lab
•mathematically modeled Earth w/ satellites -> invent GPS! 🗺
•2018 - age 87, obtained her PhD & was FINALLY recognized for her work -> inducted into Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame
•1956 - second Black woman to work at U.S Weapons Naval Lab
•mathematically modeled Earth w/ satellites -> invent GPS! 🗺
•2018 - age 87, obtained her PhD & was FINALLY recognized for her work -> inducted into Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame
Mae Jamison, MD
•B.S. in Chem Eng. & Af-Am studies from Stanford and M.D. from Cornell
•former Peace Corps medical officer
•1992 - first Black woman in space 👩🏾🚀
•founded the Jemison Group & other companies focused on improving healthcare & tech advancements in dev. countries
•B.S. in Chem Eng. & Af-Am studies from Stanford and M.D. from Cornell
•former Peace Corps medical officer
•1992 - first Black woman in space 👩🏾🚀
•founded the Jemison Group & other companies focused on improving healthcare & tech advancements in dev. countries
Bessie V. Blount Griffin
•1951 - developed a feeding tube device for WWII amputees
•published on “medical graphology” 📝
•1969 - examined forgeries as a forensic scientist w/ Portsmouth PD
•1977 - became the first Af-Am woman to work at Scotland Yard in England
•1951 - developed a feeding tube device for WWII amputees
•published on “medical graphology” 📝
•1969 - examined forgeries as a forensic scientist w/ Portsmouth PD
•1977 - became the first Af-Am woman to work at Scotland Yard in England
Ruth Ella Moore, PhD
•1933 - first Af-Am woman to earn a Ph.D. in natural sciences
•dissertation on tuberculosis earned her doctorate in bacteriology from Ohio State Univ. 🦠
•professor and chair of the bacteriology dept. at Howard University Medical College #HBCU ✊🏾
•1933 - first Af-Am woman to earn a Ph.D. in natural sciences
•dissertation on tuberculosis earned her doctorate in bacteriology from Ohio State Univ. 🦠
•professor and chair of the bacteriology dept. at Howard University Medical College #HBCU ✊🏾
Vivienne Malone-Mayes, PhD
•#FiskForever B.A. and M.A. in math 💙💛
•rejected from Baylor Univ. explicitly b/c of race
•UT Austin - only Black woman in her program; some profs refused to teach her 😒
•1966 - 5th Af-Am woman to obtain a math PhD 🙌🏾 and 1st Black prof at Baylor
•#FiskForever B.A. and M.A. in math 💙💛
•rejected from Baylor Univ. explicitly b/c of race
•UT Austin - only Black woman in her program; some profs refused to teach her 😒
•1966 - 5th Af-Am woman to obtain a math PhD 🙌🏾 and 1st Black prof at Baylor
Alexa Canady, MD 🔺
•1981 - first Black female neurosurgeon
•became Chief of Neurosurgery at Michigan’s Children’s Hospital 🏥
•inducted into Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame
•2001 - retired but began practicing again after realizing Pensacola, FL had no ped. neurosurgeons
•1981 - first Black female neurosurgeon
•became Chief of Neurosurgery at Michigan’s Children’s Hospital 🏥
•inducted into Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame
•2001 - retired but began practicing again after realizing Pensacola, FL had no ped. neurosurgeons
Kimberly Bryant
•B.S. - electrical eng. from Vanderbilt
•2011 - founded @BlackGirlsCode, a nonprofit to teach girls programming 👩🏾💻7 U.S chapters and 1 in South Africa
•2013 White House Champion of Change in tech inclusion & for bridging the digital divide for girls of color
•B.S. - electrical eng. from Vanderbilt
•2011 - founded @BlackGirlsCode, a nonprofit to teach girls programming 👩🏾💻7 U.S chapters and 1 in South Africa
•2013 White House Champion of Change in tech inclusion & for bridging the digital divide for girls of color
Christine M. Darden, PhD
•degrees in math ed., applied math and mechanical eng.
•1989 - developed NASA’s Sonic Boom research program 💥 expert on supersonic flights
•1999 - first Af-Am promoted into the Senior Exec. Service at Langley
•2019 - awarded Congressional Gold Medal
•degrees in math ed., applied math and mechanical eng.
•1989 - developed NASA’s Sonic Boom research program 💥 expert on supersonic flights
•1999 - first Af-Am promoted into the Senior Exec. Service at Langley
•2019 - awarded Congressional Gold Medal
Roger Arliner Young, PhD
•1940 - first Black woman to earn a PhD and to publish in zoology 🥚
•former professor at multiple #HBCUs incl. Howard & Jackson State
•Biology dept. chair at Shaw Univ.
•spent free time working with NAACP to register voters
•1940 - first Black woman to earn a PhD and to publish in zoology 🥚
•former professor at multiple #HBCUs incl. Howard & Jackson State
•Biology dept. chair at Shaw Univ.
•spent free time working with NAACP to register voters
Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner
•holds the most patents for any Af-Am woman in history
•most notable: 1920s - developed the first sanitary belt for menstrual cycles -> company initially interested in it, rejected after discovering she’s a Black woman -> not patented until 1956
•holds the most patents for any Af-Am woman in history
•most notable: 1920s - developed the first sanitary belt for menstrual cycles -> company initially interested in it, rejected after discovering she’s a Black woman -> not patented until 1956
Mamie Phipps Clark, PhD
•1943 - first Af-Am woman to earn PhD in psych from Columbia
•opened Child Dev. Center in Harlem -> prevent minority kids being unjustly put in special ed
•1954 - Supreme Court used her “Dolls Test” as proof to end school segregation during Brown vs BoE
•1943 - first Af-Am woman to earn PhD in psych from Columbia
•opened Child Dev. Center in Harlem -> prevent minority kids being unjustly put in special ed
•1954 - Supreme Court used her “Dolls Test” as proof to end school segregation during Brown vs BoE
Jewel Plummer Cobb, PhD
•1950 - PhD in cell phys. from NYU
•researched melanin and drug impacts on cancer cells 🧫
•professor & dean at many univ nationwide; incl. first Black female President of Cal State Fullerton
•huge advocate for women & URMs in STEM and becoming faculty
•1950 - PhD in cell phys. from NYU
•researched melanin and drug impacts on cancer cells 🧫
•professor & dean at many univ nationwide; incl. first Black female President of Cal State Fullerton
•huge advocate for women & URMs in STEM and becoming faculty
Ashanti Johnson, PhD
•renowned chemical oceanographer
•1st Af-Am to earn a PhD in oceanog. from Tex A&M 🌊
•founded many programs to ⬆️ URMs in STEM, specifically in Earth Science
•2010 - Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Sci, Math & Eng. Mentoring
•CEO of STEAM school
•renowned chemical oceanographer
•1st Af-Am to earn a PhD in oceanog. from Tex A&M 🌊
•founded many programs to ⬆️ URMs in STEM, specifically in Earth Science
•2010 - Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Sci, Math & Eng. Mentoring
•CEO of STEAM school
Margaret Strickland Collins, PhD
•1950 - 1st Black woman to earn a doctorate in entomology 🐜
•professor in zoology
•strong activist during the Civil Rights Movement
•her research on termites created the Collins Collection in the Smithsonian’s Natl. Museum of Natural History
•1950 - 1st Black woman to earn a doctorate in entomology 🐜
•professor in zoology
•strong activist during the Civil Rights Movement
•her research on termites created the Collins Collection in the Smithsonian’s Natl. Museum of Natural History
Aprille Ericsson-Jackson, PhD
•first Af-Am woman to obtain a PhD in mech. eng. from Howard Univ. & from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
•current aerospace engineer at NASA GSFC & adjunct professor at Howard 🚀
•1997 - awarded as the best female engineer in the federal gov.
•first Af-Am woman to obtain a PhD in mech. eng. from Howard Univ. & from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
•current aerospace engineer at NASA GSFC & adjunct professor at Howard 🚀
•1997 - awarded as the best female engineer in the federal gov.
Amber Johnson, PhD
•first Af-Am woman to obtain a doctorate in computer science from Purdue Univ. 👩🏾💻
•hooded by Dr. Raquel Hill, the first Af-Am to earn a PhD in comp sci from Harvard
•dissertation: generate evidence for COPD clinical guidelines using electronic health records
•first Af-Am woman to obtain a doctorate in computer science from Purdue Univ. 👩🏾💻
•hooded by Dr. Raquel Hill, the first Af-Am to earn a PhD in comp sci from Harvard
•dissertation: generate evidence for COPD clinical guidelines using electronic health records
Marguerite Williams, PhD
•1942 - first Af-Am to earn a doctorate in geology in the U.S.⛰
•dissertation: “The Study of the History of Erosion in the Anacostia Drainage Basin”
•proud educator - professor at Miner’s Teacher’s College (chair of Geography Division) and Howard Univ
•1942 - first Af-Am to earn a doctorate in geology in the U.S.⛰
•dissertation: “The Study of the History of Erosion in the Anacostia Drainage Basin”
•proud educator - professor at Miner’s Teacher’s College (chair of Geography Division) and Howard Univ
Flemmie Kittrell, PhD
•1938 - first Af-Am woman to obtain a PhD in nutrition 🍎
•Home Econ. dept head at Hampton and Howard Univ.
•1947 - coined “hidden hunger” while conducting intl. research in Liberia
•established home econ depts in India and the Congo
•1938 - first Af-Am woman to obtain a PhD in nutrition 🍎
•Home Econ. dept head at Hampton and Howard Univ.
•1947 - coined “hidden hunger” while conducting intl. research in Liberia
•established home econ depts in India and the Congo
Katherine Johnson
•mathematician & rocket scientist - provided NASA with calculations necessary for successful missions for over 30 years 🚀
•co-authored NASA’s first space textbook and 26 scientific papers
•2015 - awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama
•mathematician & rocket scientist - provided NASA with calculations necessary for successful missions for over 30 years 🚀
•co-authored NASA’s first space textbook and 26 scientific papers
•2015 - awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama
Betty Wright Harris, PhD
•noted expert in the chemistry of explosives 💥
•1986 - patented a spot test for detecting explosives in the field
•former chem & math professor
•distinguished Af-Am Scientist by the Natl. Academy of Sci
•developed the Girl Scouts’ chemistry badge
•noted expert in the chemistry of explosives 💥
•1986 - patented a spot test for detecting explosives in the field
•former chem & math professor
•distinguished Af-Am Scientist by the Natl. Academy of Sci
•developed the Girl Scouts’ chemistry badge
Norma Sklarek
•1954 - first licensed Black female architect in NY 🏙
•1959 - first Af-Am female member of the American Inst. of Architects
•1985 - first Af-Am woman to establish an architectural firm
•most prolific projects: U.S. Embassy in Tokyo & LA’s Pacific Design Center
•1954 - first licensed Black female architect in NY 🏙
•1959 - first Af-Am female member of the American Inst. of Architects
•1985 - first Af-Am woman to establish an architectural firm
•most prolific projects: U.S. Embassy in Tokyo & LA’s Pacific Design Center
Theanne Griffith, PhD
•sensory neuroscientist at @Rutgers_NJMS 🧠
•Neuroscience Scholars Program class advisor
•upcoming @MblNeuro faculty
•children’s STEM-themed book author (The Magnificent Makers, @randomhousekids) 📕
•huge supporter and advocate for URMs in neurosci
•sensory neuroscientist at @Rutgers_NJMS 🧠
•Neuroscience Scholars Program class advisor
•upcoming @MblNeuro faculty
•children’s STEM-themed book author (The Magnificent Makers, @randomhousekids) 📕
•huge supporter and advocate for URMs in neurosci
Lilia Ann Abron, PhD 🔺
•1972 - first Af-Am woman to obtain a PhD in chem. engineering
•former prof. at TSU, Vanderbilt, & Howard
•1978 - founder & CEO of environ. consulting firm: PEER Consultants
•1995 - founded PEER Africa to build energy-efficient homes in South Africa 🏘
•1972 - first Af-Am woman to obtain a PhD in chem. engineering
•former prof. at TSU, Vanderbilt, & Howard
•1978 - founder & CEO of environ. consulting firm: PEER Consultants
•1995 - founded PEER Africa to build energy-efficient homes in South Africa 🏘
Geraldine Pittman Woods, PhD🔺
•1945 - PhD in neuroembryology
•Past Natl. Pres. of ΔΣΘ - est. the Delta Research & Educ. Foundation
•1964 - first Af-Am woman on NAGMS Council to improve science educ. & research at HBCUs 👩🏾🔬
•est. many STEM programs for URMs incl. MARC at NIGMS
•1945 - PhD in neuroembryology
•Past Natl. Pres. of ΔΣΘ - est. the Delta Research & Educ. Foundation
•1964 - first Af-Am woman on NAGMS Council to improve science educ. & research at HBCUs 👩🏾🔬
•est. many STEM programs for URMs incl. MARC at NIGMS
