Category: Black History Month

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 … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 15)

For day 14 of our Black History Month celebration, we recognize: Dr. Marguerite Williams! Dr. Marguerite Williams was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in geology. Born on December 24, 1895, in Washington, D.C., Williams became a pupil of the famed African-American biologist Ernest Everett Just. In 1923, Williams graduated from Howard University … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 14)

For day 13 of our Black History Month celebration, we recognize: James Andrew Harris! James Andrew Harris was a nuclear chemist, the first African American to participate in the identification of a new element, and the co-discoverer of elements 104 and 105. Born on March 26, 1932, in Waco, Texas, Harris shared a natural gift … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 13)

For day 12 of our Black History Month celebration, we recognize: Evelyn Boyd Granville! Evelyn Boyd Granville was the second African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics, and one of the first African American women to work as a computer programmer at IBM. Born on May 1, 1924, in Washington, D.C., Granville attended … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 12)

For day 11 of our Black History Month celebration, we recognize: Dr. Guion Bluford! Dr. Guion Bluford is an aerospace engineer, retired U.S. Air Force officer and fighter pilot, and the first African American in space. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 22, 1942, Bluford attended Overbrook Senior High School, and graduated in 1960. In … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 11)

For day 10 of our Black History Month celebration, we recognize: Stephanie Wilson! Stephanie Wilson is the second African American woman to go into space, after Mae Jemison, and she also holds the record of spending the most days in space of any African American astronaut.   Born on September 27, 1966, in Boston, Massachusetts, … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 10)

For day 9 of our Black History Month celebration, we recognize: Joan Higginbotham! Joan Higginbotham is an engineer, former NASA astronaut, and the third African American woman to go into space, after Mae Jemison and Stephanie Wilson. Born in Chicago, Illinois on August 3, 1964, Higginbotham’s original career plans did not include becoming an astronaut. … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 9)

For day 8 of our Black History Month celebration we recognize: Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson! Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an African American astrophysicist, the former host of NOVA ScienceNow, and the fifth head of the Hayden Planetarium. Born in New York City on October 5, 1958, Tyson shared an early interest in the stars. … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 8)

For day 7 of our Black History Month celebration we recognize: Dr. Arthur B. C. Walker Jr.! Dr. Arthur B.C. Walker Jr. was an African American astrophysicist who helped in developing solar telescopes that captured the Sun’s corona. Born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 24, 1936, Walker shared an interest in science. Inspired by Albert … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 7)

For day 6 of our Black History Month celebration we recognize: Annie Easley! Annie Easley was an African American mathematician, “human computer,” and became one of the first African-American female computer programmers at NASA. Born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 23, 1933, Easley would become an inspiration and champion for women and people of color … Continue reading Black History Month Celebration 2019 (Day 6)