Her Stem Space

Early Life

Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb was born in Moblie, Alabama on February 21, 1923. Her parents, Bibb Garden Johnson and Cattie Lee Avant Johnson, had two other daughters, Gladys and Mercides, who were Dr. Webb’s younger sisters. While working towards her high school diploma, she worked at a laundry office in Tuskeegee.

Education

Dr. Webb continued towards higher education at the Tuskegee Institute and received a Bachelor of Science in 1943. After that, she decided she wanted to go further than any Black woman before and attend the Tuskegee Institute College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1949 she finished pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary medicine and became Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb. She was now the first Black woman in history to graduate veterinary school and become licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the U.S. She became the first Black woman to join the Women’s Veterinary Association. 1949 was a year of constantly making history for Dr. Webb.  Dr. Webb was, understandably, a very aspirational woman, and therefore, her education did not stop after writing her name in history as a woman of many firsts. She attended Michigan State University to receive her Master of Science in Anatomy in 1950. Dr. Webb revealed that she was interested in attending Michigan State University because the Head of Anatomy was a woman; this was shocking because women in science at this time were still rare.

Accomplishments

After her schooling, she taught anatomy at Michigan State University from 1950 to 1959. She reached the rank of associate professor during her days at the University. In 1959, she set out for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where she taught biology and mathematics until she retired. Adding to her list of firsts in history, in 1972 Dr. Webb became the first Black woman to be a member of the North Carolina General Assembly. She was on several committees on the assembly and took the leadership position of Chairperson of Minority Affairs. Furthermore, she was a member of the Democratic National Committee, president of the Democratic Women of North Carolina, a member of the Hayes YMCA organization, and a member of the planning committee at the School of Veterinary Medicine for North Carolina. She was also a member of the Honor Societies Sigma Xi and Gamma Sigma Delta.

Later Life

Dr. Webb went on to marry another doctor, Dr. Burleigh Carlyle Webb. Many of the schools and institutions Dr. Webb taught and learned at were also attended by her husband. This includes Michigan State University, Tuskegee University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She had 2 sons and a daughter: Alfred Webb, Burleigh Webb, and Kathryn Webb. However, Dr. Alfreda Webb fought breast cancer for 14 years before she passed away at age 69 on October 14, 1992.

Nonetheless, the legacy of Dr. Alfreda Webb continued. She was inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1999, Senate Resolution 133 was passed to honor the life and contributions of Dr. Alfreda Webb, and she even has a scholarship named after her called the Dr. Alfreda Webb Scholarship Award at NC State University. Her contributions to the world of science will never be forgotten.

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Works Cited

Laney, Aniya. “Webb, Alfreda Wilhelmena Johnson.” North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, 11 Jan. 2023, https://www.ncpedia.org/webb-alfreda-wilhelmena-johnson.

“Black History Month in Animal Welfare – Alfreda Johnson Webb.” Michigan Humane, 19 Feb. 2021, https://www.michiganhumane.org/black-history-month-in-animal-welfare-alfreda-johnson-webb/.

“Black History Month Acknowledges the Paramount Role of African Americans throughout U.S. History While Celebrating the Achievements of Black Americans. The First Two Black Women to Receive Their Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine–one of Whom Went on to Earn Her Master’s Degree from MSU–made Important Accomplishments That Contributed to Veterinary Medicine, Safety, and Education Today.” Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1 Feb. 2017, https://cvm.msu.edu/vetschool-tails/celebrating-black-history-month.

“Black Veterinary History: Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb.” University of Missouri Zalk Veterinary Medical Library, 1 Feb. 2017, https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/AfricanAmericanVeterinaryHistory/JohnsonWebb#:~:text=In%201949%2C%20she%20became%20one,and%20join%20Women’s%20Veterinary%20Association.

“Women’s History Month & International Women’s Day: Meet 7 Female Veterinarians Who Changed Animal Medicine.” Petco Careers, https://careers.petco.com/us/en/blogarticle/women-s-history-month-international-women%E2%80%99s-day-meet-7-female-veterinarians-who-changed-animal-medicine.

Hi! My name is Alexandra. I’m a rising Junior from NYC. I’m interested in working in computer science, preferably in cybersecurity. I am interested in STEM because I have always felt a connection to technology and understanding how it came to be so advanced as well as how to use it for the betterment of society.