Speaker Profile Thumbnail for Mae Jemison

Pioneering Astronaut | Physician | Advocate for STEM Education & Diversity | Leader in Space Exploration and Social Justice

Mae Jemison Speaking Fee: $30,000 to $50,000

Pioneering Astronaut | Physician | Advocate for STEM Education & Diversity | Leader in Space Exploration and Social Justice

Speaker Profile Thumbnail for Mae Jemison
Speaking Fee:
$30,000 to $50,000

Travels From:
ORD - Chicago (All Airports)

Primary Topic Category:
African American & Black

Secondary Topic Category:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) / Social Justice

 

Mae Jemison Speaker Profile: At A Glance

American icon Dr. Mae C. Jemison broke more than the sound barrier in 1992 when she climbed aboard the space shuttle Endeavour – she became the first woman of color to travel into space. Dr. Jemison was NASA’s first Science Mission Specialist, performing experiments in material science, life science, and human adaptation to weightlessness. She now leads 100 Year Starship (100YSS), a bold, far reaching nonprofit initiative to assure the capabilities exist for human travel beyond our solar system to another star within the next 100 years.

Mae Jemison is an accomplished American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut, celebrated for her trailblazing role as the first African American woman to travel into space. Born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama, she moved to Chicago with her family at the age of three, where she nurtured a deep interest in science and space. Her educational journey led her to Stanford University at the young age of 16, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in African and African-American Studies. She furthered her studies at Cornell University, obtaining a Doctorate in Medicine in 1981. Jemison's professional career is as diverse as it is impressive. Before joining NASA, she served as a general practitioner and a medical officer in the Peace Corps, working in Sierra Leone and Liberia. In 1987, she was selected from over 2,000 applicants to join NASA's astronaut corps. Her historic space flight took place aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992, where she served as a mission specialist and conducted various scientific experiments. This mission cemented her legacy as a pioneer in space exploration. After leaving NASA in 1993, Jemison continued to inspire through education and advocacy. She taught environmental studies at Dartmouth College and founded the Jemison Group, a company dedicated to integrating advanced technology into daily life and promoting science education. Jemison also leads the 100 Year Starship project, an initiative aimed at ensuring human space travel beyond our solar system within the next century. Through her non-profit organization, the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, she established The Earth We Share (TEWS), an international science camp for students aged 12 to 16, fostering global scientific literacy and problem-solving skills. Mae Jemison's contributions extend beyond her professional achievements; she remains a powerful advocate for diversity in STEM fields and encourages young people, especially women and minorities, to pursue their dreams and careers in science and technology.
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