Back to search results. Shirley Ann Jackson, a visionary scientist, educator and public policy innovator, has broken barriers and blazed trails throughout her life. Jackson was one of the first two African-American women to receive a doctorate in physics in the United States and was the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After only one year, the number entering rose from 2 to They also modeled how these bunching patterns would change with variations in temperature—and how those changes would affect the properties of the material.
Decades later, research on charge density waves has enjoyed a revival because of its importance in developing high-temperature superconductors, which have applications in everything from power transmission to quantum computing.
Begins collecting live bumblees and observing their reactions to changes in diet and light exposure. Begins advising New Jersey governor Tom Kean on how the state should invest in science and technology at its research universities. Appointed chair of the U. She's the first woman and first African-American to serve in that position.
Becomes 18th president of Reselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is the first woman and the first African-American to hold the position. Awarded National Medal of Science for work in condensed matter and particle physics, science-rooted public policy achievements, and inspiration to the next generation of STEM professionals.
The research led to an ongoing position for Jackson at Bell Labs. Later, in , she also joined the faculty at Rutgers University. She accepted, even though it meant giving up her tenured position at Rutgers and spending the work week away from her husband, physicist Morris Washington, and their son, Alan, who was just starting high school.
Her approach took advantage of sophisticated computer modeling—much of it pioneered at MIT—to make probability-based judgments about the likelihood of various problems.
For instance, if a power plant operator wanted to make physical changes to the plant or operate it differently, regulators could more accurately predict the relative risks of those changes. Jackson also led international efforts to promote nuclear safety, working in places including post-apartheid South Africa and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Nearly a decade after the accident, the site still had high radiation levels emanating from the destroyed reactor, and radioactive contamination in a broad area around the plant.
Jackson also spearheaded the creation of the International Nuclear Regulators Association, which supports nuclear regulation around the world.
As the sixth person to serve as president in 14 years, she aimed to transform RPI into a world-class technological research university. She was ready, having already served on the boards of Rutgers and MIT.
Jackson became a member of the MIT Corporation in and is now a lifetime member. In , she prevailed in a vote of no confidence by a small margin. She says the faculty were concerned about tighter criteria and higher expectations for promotion and tenure, among other things.
In a separate struggle, her administration suspended the faculty senate in The Board of Trustees had asked the senate to amend its constitution to limit its membership, resulting in an impasse; the senate was then reconstituted in Change can also be expensive. Meanwhile, Jackson has also become a prominent voice on scientific and technical issues that matter to the country.
In these positions, she led a study on advanced manufacturing in the United States and got involved with issues of national and global security, cybersecurity, and digital technology.
In , Obama awarded her the National Medal of Science. While at Bell laboratories, Jackson met her future husband, physicist Morris A. That same year, she was appointed professor of physics at Rutgers University. Become a Member Sign up.
Already a member? Contribute to our 20 Campaign. Education MegaMenu. Higher Education. Classroom Support. Shirley Ann Jackson. Biography Donate Now. List of Stories in The HistoryMakers Digital Archive Tape: 1 Slating of Shirley Ann Jackson's interview Shirley Ann Jackson shares her favorites Shirley Ann Jackson talks about her father's upbringing and involvement in the D-Day landing Shirley Ann Jackson talks about her mother's upbringing and family background Shirley Ann Jackson describes her fifth birthday party and talks about her siblings Shirley Ann Jackson tells a story about protecting her sister during an encounter with a rude school bus driver Shirley Ann Jackson talks about her family's move to the northwest section of Washington, D.
Shirley Ann Jackson describes her family's house in Washington, D.
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