Mae C. Jemison

As the first African-American woman to travel into space, Mae C. Jemison made history as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-47. Embarking on September 12, 1992, for an eight-day cooperative mission between the United States and Japan, Dr. Jemison logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, 23 seconds in space, orbiting the Earth 127 times.

She further pursued a medical degree from Cornell University, earning her M.D. in 1981. Post-graduation, Dr. Jemison served as a medical officer for the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1983 to 1985, where she was responsible for the health and welfare of volunteers and staff.

After departing NASA in March 1993, Dr. Jemison established The Jemison Group Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to exploring the sociocultural impact of technological advancements. In 1994, she founded the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, which developed and continues to operate _The Earth We Share_, an international science camp designed for youth aged 12 to 16. Concurrently, she held significant academic appointments, serving as a professor of environmental studies at Dartmouth College from 1995 to 2002, and as an Andrew D.

White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University beginning in 1999. Further demonstrating her commitment to scientific innovation, Dr. Jemison founded BioSentient Corp in 1999. In 2012, she spearheaded the successful winning bid for the DARPA 100 Year Starship project through her foundation, an ambitious initiative focused on ensuring human interstellar travel capabilities within a century.

Dr. Jemison remains a tireless advocate for science education and promoting diversity within STEM fields, having authored several children’s books and frequently appearing in media to share her expertise and inspire future generations.