By: Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
Mae Carol Jemison’s storied career began with a solid academic foundation. She graduated from Stanford University with degrees in chemical engineering and in African and African-American studies before earning her medical degree from Cornell University in 1981.
Jemison traveled to Cuba for a study funded by the American Medical Student Association and to Thailand, where she provided medical care at a Cambodian refugee camp. Additionally, she served with the Flying Doctors organization in East Africa.
Throughout her time at Cornell, Jemison pursued her passion for dance by taking classes at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. After earning her M.D. in 1981, she interned at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in 1982 and later worked as a general practitioner with the Ross–Loos Medical Group. Her passion for service led her to work as a physician for the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1983 to 1985, providing essential medical care in challenging environments.
In 1987, after applying to NASA and the subsequent Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, Jemison made history by becoming one of the first African-American women selected by NASA to join its astronaut corps. Her selection out of approximately 2,000 applicants marked a significant milestone for diversity in space exploration.
Jemison’s groundbreaking space mission occurred from September 12 to 20, 1992, aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-47. As a mission specialist, she spent nearly eight days in orbit, logging over 190 hours in space and participating in crucial scientific experiments, like testing NASA’s Fluid Therapy System, using IV bags to produce a saline solution in space, co-investigating two bone cell research experiments, and inducing female frogs to ovulate, fertilize the eggs, and seeing how tadpoles developed in zero gravity.
Jemison’s impact extended beyond her historic space flight. After leaving NASA in 1993, she founded The Jemison Group Inc., focusing on the sociocultural implications of technology. She also established the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries, serving as a professor of environmental studies at Dartmouth College from 1995 to 2002. She was committed to science education and advocating for minority students.
Jemison’s involvement with educational initiatives includes her role as a member of various scientific organizations and her contributions to forums aimed at encouraging young girls in science.
Her accolades reflect her contributions to both science and society. Jemison has been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame, and she has received several honorary doctorates. In 2008, she commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which she supported by carrying its banner on her shuttle flight in her astronaut uniform. In March 2009, Jemison participated in a forum for promising girls in Washington, D.C. public schools alongside First Lady Michelle Obama.
She is affiliated with several prestigious scientific organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Chemical Society, the Association of Space Explorers, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Jemison has appeared on television, including a notable guest role on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in 1993. She has also authored several children’s books.
Jemison’s legacy is one of pioneering spirit and advancements in science and education. Her continued advocacy for minority students and her contributions to various scientific and educational fields ensure her place as someone who not only reached for the stars but has also inspired countless others to do the same.
