Today In Black History: Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson
The first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Physics
Issue #824 Today In Black History, Monday, March 17, 2025
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Born on August 5, 1946, in Washington, D.C., Shirley Ann Jackson pursued her passion for physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she became the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in nuclear physics in 1973. She is also the second African American woman in the United States to earn a doctorate in physics.
As a theoretical physicist, she conducted groundbreaking research at institutions such as AT&T Bell Laboratories, contributing to advances in telecommunications technology.
From 1991 to 1995, Jackson served on the faculty at Rutgers University in Piscataway and New Brunswick, New Jersey, and continued to consult with Bell Labs on semiconductor theory. Her research focused on two-dimensional systems' electronic and optical properties during this time.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton appointed her chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), making her the first woman and first African American to hold that position.
As a member of President Bill Clinton's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, she shaped national science policy, emphasizing the need for a diverse and inclusive scientific community.
In addition, while Jackson served on the commission, she assisted in establishing the International Nuclear Regulators Association, which she chaired from 1997 to 1999. The association consisted of senior nuclear regulatory officials from countries such as Canada, France, Germany, and Spain.
In the early 1990s, then-New Jersey Governor James Florio awarded Jackson the Thomas Alva Edison Science Award for her contributions to physics and for the promotion of science.
In 1999, Jackson took on the role of President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), becoming the first African American woman to lead a top-ranked research university. Her visionary leadership transformed RPI into a global research institution, emphasizing the importance of technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Jackson to serve on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a 20-member advisory group dedicated to public policy.
In 2016, Jackson's lifetime of achievements was recognized with the National Medal of Science, the highest honor in the United States for contributions to science and engineering.
Dr. Jackson is married to Morris A. Washington, a physics professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. They have one adult son. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc..
Today In Black History
In 1865, Aaron Anderson won the Navy’s Medal of Honor for his heroic actions aboard the USS Wyandank during the Civil War.
In 1877, Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia, was chartered after being founded in 1869 as Clark University by the Freemen’s Aid Society of the United Methodist Church.
In 1896, Charles Brooks received a patent for inventing the automatic street sweeper.
In 1946, Jackie Robinson made his professional debut as a member of the Montreal Royals in the Daytona Beach ballpark that now bears his name.
In 1999, Maurice Ashley, a Jamaican immigrant, became the first Black person to become a chess Grandmaster.
In 2008, David A. Paterson was sworn in as the first legally blind American governor, the first Black governor of New York State, and only the fourth Black governor of any state.
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