Mary W. Jackson Was The First African American Female Engineer At NASA And Here’s What You Need To Know About Her Lasting Impact On STEM As Well As Civil Rights
Mary W. Jackson was born on April 9, 1921, in Hampton, Virginia, during the segregation era.
And despite discrimination running rampant throughout the country, Mary went on to distinguish herself as an invaluable asset to mathematics and science.
She first graduated high school with high honors before earning a dual degree in physical science and mathematics from the Hampton Institute in 1942.
And following a one-year stint as a math teacher in Maryland, Mary began working at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
She would later become the first African American female engineer at NASA– paving the way for other Black women in the predominantly white and male-dominated fields of STEM.
Mary cultivated her engineering career for about twenty years and led programs that specifically focused on the hiring and promotion of women within NASA’s STEM sectors.
She eventually retired in 1985 before passing away in 2005. But, her contributions to STEM and civil rights live on today.
In 2019, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine posthumously presented Mary with a Congressional Gold Medal– the highest expression of national appreciation provided by Congress.
NASA; pictured above is Mary
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And in June of 2020, NASA announced that the agency’s headquarters building located in Washington, D.C., would be named in honor of Mary’s legacy.
Former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine revered her impact and dedication in a fond statement later that month.
“Mary never accepted the status quo; she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology,” Bridenstine began.
“NASA facilities across the country are named after people who dedicated their lives to pushing the frontiers of the aerospace industry.
The nation is beginning to awaken to the greater need to honor the full diversity of people who helped pioneer our great nation,” he continued.
Mary was succeeded by her daughter, Carolyn Lewis, who also expressed her gratitude for her mother’s tenacity in the face of adversity.
“She was a scientist, humanitarian, wife, mother, and trailblazer who paved the way for thousands of others to succeed– not only at NASA but throughout this nation,” Carolyn said.
To learn more about Mary W. Jackson’s widespread impact and NASA’s headquarters, you can visit the agency’s official press release linked here.
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