Mae C. Jemison, the first woman of color to go into space, is now exploring new horizons as the founder of The Jemison Group Inc., a Houston-based technology-consulting firm that integrates critical sociocultural issues into the design of engineering and science projects. When she visits campus March 27, she will speak on the topic “Science and Technology Advances and Innovation Through Diversity: People, Perspective and Purpose” as part of Case Western Reserve University’s Power of Diversity Lecture Series, sponsored by Case Western Reserve’s Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity. The free, public event will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Wolstein Research Building’s auditorium.
At the age of 16, Jemison graduated from Morgan High School in Chicago and went on to study chemical engineering and Afro and African-American studies at Stanford University. She graduated in 1977 and continued on to Weill Cornell Medical College, where she earned her medical degree in 1981. She entered the Peace Corps and served as a medical volunteer in Cambodia and a medical officer in West Africa.
In 1988, she completed her training as a mission specialist for NASA and took flight in 1992 as part of the mission team for the Shuttle Endeavour. Upon retirement from NASA in 1993, she founded the Jemison Group Inc., which helps developing countries marshal resources for healthcare and technology.
For more information about Jemison’s talk, call 216.368.8877 or visit case.edu/diversity/about/events/lectureseries.html.