Black Heroes in STEM
Gayle West, Ph.D.
Gayle West, Ph.D.
Dr. West is one of the master minds behind GPS and received an ultimate honor on December 6, 2018 at 87-years old. Dr. West was inducted into the United States Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Born and raised in Virginia, she was very determined to get her education. She knew that she didn’t want to work in the fields as her parents did. In her own words, she says “I realized I had to get an education to get out.” She received a master’s degree in Math and is employed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, where she is the second African-American woman ever to be hired.
Dr. West is one of the master minds behind GPS and received an ultimate honor on December 6, 2018 at 87-years old. Dr. West was inducted into the United States Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Born and raised in Virginia, she was very determined to get her education. She knew that she didn’t want to work in the fields as her parents did. In her own words, she says “I realized I had to get an education to get out.” She received a master’s degree in Math and is employed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, where she is the second African-American woman ever to be hired.
Alice Ball, M.S.
Alice Ball, M.S.
Alice Augusta Ball (July 24, 1892 – December 31, 1916) was an African-American chemist who developed the first successful treatment for those suffering from Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Ball was also the very first African American and the very first woman to graduate with an M.S. degree in chemistry from the College of Hawaii (now known as the University of Hawaii). Tragically, Ball died at the young age of 24. During her brief lifetime, she did not get to see the full impact of her discovery. It was not until years after her death that Ball got the proper credit she deserved.
Alice Augusta Ball (July 24, 1892 – December 31, 1916) was an African-American chemist who developed the first successful treatment for those suffering from Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Ball was also the very first African American and the very first woman to graduate with an M.S. degree in chemistry from the College of Hawaii (now known as the University of Hawaii). Tragically, Ball died at the young age of 24. During her brief lifetime, she did not get to see the full impact of her discovery. It was not until years after her death that Ball got the proper credit she deserved.
George Washington Carver, M.S.
George Washington Carver, M.S.
George Washington Carver was an agricultural scientist and inventor who developed hundreds of products using peanuts (though not peanut butter, as is often claimed), sweet potatoes and soybeans. Born an African-American slave a year before the practice was outlawed, Carver left home at a young age to pursue an education and would eventually earn a master’s degree in agricultural science from Iowa State University. He would go on to teach and conduct research at Tuskegee University for decades, and soon after his death his childhood home would be named a national monument — the first to honor an African American.
George Washington Carver was an agricultural scientist and inventor who developed hundreds of products using peanuts (though not peanut butter, as is often claimed), sweet potatoes and soybeans. Born an African-American slave a year before the practice was outlawed, Carver left home at a young age to pursue an education and would eventually earn a master’s degree in agricultural science from Iowa State University. He would go on to teach and conduct research at Tuskegee University for decades, and soon after his death his childhood home would be named a national monument — the first to honor an African American.