Her Stem Space

Born in Washington D.C. in 1946, Jackson graduated as her class valedictorian in 1964 and pursued physics soon after at MIT, earning her Bachelor of Science in 1968 and making history as the first African American woman to have earned a doctorate from MIT in 1973. During her graduate years she helped co-found MIT’s Black Student Union, boosting Black student enrollment (MIT).

After postdoctoral work at Fermilab and CERN- international laboratories dedicated to participle physics research, Jackson spent fifteen years at the Bell Laboratories researching condensed matter and semiconductor theory as a theoretical physicist (NRC). In 1995, former President Clinton nominated her as the Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), making her the first woman and first African American to hold this position. She pioneered risk-informed, performance-based regulations and helped form the International Nuclear Regulators Association (NRC).

In 1999, Jackson became the 18th President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). She became the first Black woman to lead a major technological university. Under her leadership, RPI raised over $1 billion, increased female enrollment notably (Britannica).

Dr. Jackson’s legacy, which has flourished in her distinguished academic excellence, innovation, and institutional leadership, proves that passion and perseverance can reshape both science and society as a whole. Her story encourages future generations, especially minorities in science fields- to dream boldly and lead with purpose.