Dr. Mae Jemison

Occupations:
NASA Astronaut
Physician
Professor

Dr. Mae Jemison (born in 1956) is the first African-American female astronaut.

Jemison graduated from Chicago’s Morgan Park High School in 1973 and entered Stanford University at age 16.  She graduated from Stanford in 1977, receiving a B.S. in chemical engineering and fulfilling the requirements for a B.A. in African and Afro-American Studies.

After she obtained her M.D. in 1981, Jemison interned at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center and later worked as a general practitioner.

Jemison joined the staff of the Peace Corps and served as a Peace Corps Medical Officer from 1983 to 1985. She was responsible for the health of Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

In October 1985, Mae applied for admission to NASA’s astronaut training program. When Jemison was chosen on June 4, 1987, she became the first African-American woman to be admitted into the astronaut training program. In 1992, she flew into space aboard the Endeavour, becoming the first African-American woman in space.