Shirley Ann Jackson is the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. from MIT and the second to earn a doctorate in physics in our nation’s history. In 2015, she received the National Medal of Science. Today, she is the president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), making her the first Black woman to lead a top-ranked research university.
Kimberly Bryant founded Black Girls Code in 2011. The program is dedicated to exposing girls of color between the ages seven to 17 to STEM, tech, and coding studies through workshops and after-school programs. Today, Black Girls Code has trained more than 8,000 girls.
Jaha Dukureh is a survivor of female genital mutilation after being forced to marry at 15. Today she is a United Nations Women Regional Ambassador for Africa and CEO and founder of “Safe Hands for Girls.” This organization helps survivors of FGM heal and recover from their trauma.
Sheila Johnson is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, and co-founder of BET. In 2000 she became the first Black female billionaire to appear on a Forbes list. She is also the first and only Black woman to have a stake in three pro sports teams — the Wizards, the Capitals, and the Mystics.
Ari Merenciano is an artist, designer, researcher, and DJ. She is the founder of Afrotectopia, an artistic hub that celebrates innovation, design, technology, and blackness. Merenciano is also a consultant for New York City's Department of Education.