Mae Jemison

Dr. Mae C. Jemison 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 century. As 100YSS' Principal, she is building a multi-faceted global community to foster the cultural, scientific, social and technical commitment, support and financial framework to accomplish the 100YSS vision.

Dr. Jemison, who is a physician, engineer, educator and entrepreneur, was the first woman of color to go into space, aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. She left NASA a year later, having served as an astronaut for six years. Prior to joining NASA, she was the Area Peace Corps Medical Officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia and a general practice physician in Los Angeles.

Dr. Jemison started The Jemison Group, Inc., a technology consulting firm integrating critical socio-cultural issues into the design, development and implementation of engineering and science projects. As an Environmental Studies professor at Dartmouth College, she taught classes on, and researched, technology design and sustainable development with special emphasis on developing countries. She is a worldwide respected voice in STEM education and is founder of the non-profit Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence. She started The Earth We Share™, a unique international science literacy curriculum and program that builds student critical thinking and problem solving skills, and trains middle and secondary school teachers in experiential education.

Dr. Jemison was the founding Chairman of the state of Texas' Product Development and Small Business Incubator Board. A member of the National Academies of Science's Institute of Medicine, she is also an inductee of the National Women's Hall of Fame; the National Medical Association Hall of Fame; and the Texas Science Hall of Fame. She is also the recipient of the National Organization for Women's Intrepid Award and the Kilby Science Award, among many honors.

An author of lay literature and technical articles, Dr. Jemison is sought for commentary on space exploration, science education, diversity, sustainability and development. She is the first real-life astronaut to appear on an episode of the "Star Trek" TV franchise, and is a LEGO figurine in the LEGO Women of NASA kit. She appears on Forbes magazine's 2023 "50 Over 50" list.

Dr. Jemison earned her B.S., Chemical Engineering and fulfilled requirements for A.B., African and Afro-American Studies from Stanford University and received her M.D. from Cornell University.