For day 15 of our Black History Month celebration, we recognize: Dr. Beth Brown!
Dr. Beth Brown was a NASA astrophysicist and the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Michigan.
Born on July 15, 1969, in Roanoke, Virginia, Beth Brown shared a fascination in space. Space themed series such as “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” motivated Brown’s interest in pursuing a career as an astronaut. Despite learning that her nearsightedness could potentially hinder her chances of becoming one, Brown continued to follow her interest in the stars.
In 1987, Brown graduated from William Fleming High School as class valedictorian, and later studied at Howard University, where she graduated summa cum laude, majoring in physics and astronomy. She continued her education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she received her master’s in astronomy in 1994.
In 1998, Brown became the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in astronomy from the University of Michigan.
Upon completing her graduate work, Brown began working at NASA Goddard as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate and later, an Astrophysicist Fellow in NASA’s fellowship program. Brown’s last position at NASA was Assistant Director for Science Communications and Higher Education.
On October 5, 2008, Brown passed away at the age of 39. Her legacy and contributions at NASA and to the field of astronomy have unquestionably inspired countless women and minorities to pursue careers in astrophysics.
Robinson Family Aerospace Mission 