Throughout Black History Month the Liberty Science Center blog is highlighting African American scientists to continue our mission of getting learners of all ages excited about the power, promise, and pure fun of science and technology.

“Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.” -Dr. Mae C. Jemison

Mae C. Jemison was born on October 17, 1956 in Decatur, Alabama, the youngest of three, her father was a roofer and carpenter and her mother an elementary school teacher. When Jemison was three years old the family moved to Chicago to take advantage of the better educational opportunities. Jemison’s sister became a child psychiatrist, her brother became a real estate broker, and Jemison became a physician.

Throughout her early school years, Jemison was an exceptional student and spent many hours in the library reading about science, especially astronomy. Whilst in Morgan Park High School, Jemison was convinced that she wanted to pursue a career in biomedical engineering; she graduated with honors in 1973 and entered Stanford University on a National Achievement Scholarship where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1977. She then entered into Cornell University Medical College and, during her years there, studied in Cuba and Kenya and worked at a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand.

She obtained her M.D. in 1981, worked as a general practitioner at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, and for the next two and a half years, she was the area Peace Corps medical officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia. After her return to the United States in 1985, Jemison made a career change and decided to follow her dream. In October of that year, she applied for admission to NASA’s astronaut training program. Jemison was chosen on June 4, 1987, making her the first African-American woman to be admitted into the astronaut training program. After Jemison completed her training, she became the first African-American female astronaut, and earned the title of science mission specialist which made her responsible for conducting crew-related scientific experiments on the space shuttle.

Jemison’s groundbreaking achievements continued on September 12, 1992, when she and six other astronauts flew aboard the Endeavor on mission STS47, and she became the first African-American woman in space.

The Endeavor was in space for eight days and returned to Earth on September 20, 1992. Following her historic flight, Jemison noted that society should recognize how much both women and members of other minority groups can contribute if given the opportunity.

In recognition of her accomplishments, over the years Jemison received a multitude of awards, including being inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993. She retired from NASA astronaut corps in March 1993 and took up a teaching position at Dartmouth. She later formed The Jemison Group, Inc., a technology design and consulting company. In 2013 Jemison came to Liberty Science Center to host a rocket launch competition.

Her active pursuit to fulfilling her dreams continues to inspire today.

STEM blog by Kelly Rose Lynch. Kelly is an intern on the Marketing Team at Liberty Science Center.