HerStory: Dr. Mae Jemison
Dr. Mae Jemison is an engineer, physician, and NASA astronaut. In 1992 she became the first African-American woman in space, flying aboard Space Shuttle Endeavor.
She grew up in Chicago and from a young age dreamed about going into space. Mae entered Stanford University at 16 years old and graduated from Stanford with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree in African and African-American studies.. At Stanford, she served as president of the Black Student Union and choreographed a performing arts production called Out of the Shadows about the African American experience.
She later received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Cornell Medical School. She has done medical humanitarian work across the globe as a general practitioner. In 1987, she became the first African American woman to be admitted into NASA’s astronaut training program. Jemison has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month and our 1 yr anniversary as an org, we want to highlight children’s books that celebrate amazing women who have made impactful changes for children of color throughout history.
