Dr. Shirley A. Jackson (1946-) is a physicist and president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the nation’s oldest technological university.
Born to Beatrice and George Jackson in Washington, D.C., Jackson developed a passion for science at the age of 8, spurred by her father’s assistance with projects for her science classes. She joined the accelerated programs for math and science and graduated valedictorian from segregated Roosevelt High School in 1964. Later that year, she became one of the first black students to be accepted at MIT and the only one studying theoretical physics.
While working on her undergraduate degree, she volunteered at Boston City Hospital and tutored students at the Roxbury YMCA. In 1968, Jackson earned her B.S. and chose to stay at MIT for her doctoral work to encourage more black students to attend. She completed her Ph.D. in 1973 and became the first black woman to earn a doctorate degree from the institution.
Dr. Jackson became a research associate in theoretical physics at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in 1973 and served as a visiting science associate at the European Organization for Nuclear Research from 1974–1975. She then returned to Fermilab as a research associate in theoretical physics. Jackson spent 1976–1977 at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center and Aspen Center for Physics. She also served on the technical staff of Bell Telephone Laboratories in theoretical physics from 1976 until 1978. That year, Dr. Jackson began working with the technical staff of the Scattering and Low Energy Physics Research Laboratory of Bell Telephone Laboratories.
In 1976, Dr. Jackson was appointed professor of physics at Rutgers University and served until 1991. From 1991 to 1995, she served as a consultant in semiconductor theory to AT&T Bell Laboratories. In 1995, President Bill Clinton appointed her Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, becoming the first woman and first black person to hold the position.
Jackson became the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on July 1, 1999. She was the first woman and first black person to hold this position, as well. In 2001, she was elected member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). In December of the following year, Jackson was elected president-elect (2003) of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the science journal Science. In 2004, Science Spectrum Magazine and Career Communications Group, Inc. selected Dr. Jackson as one of the 50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science.
Jackson is the former president and chairman of the Board of the AAAS; a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, The American Philosophical Society, the Council on Foreign Relations; and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the AAAS. She serves on a number of boards, including the New York Stock Exchange, the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, IBM, FedEx, MIT and Georgetown University.
Dr. Jackson holds 43 honorary doctoral degrees and has been described as “a national treasure” by the National Science Board who, in 2007, selected Jackson as the recipient of the Vannevar Bush Award for “a lifetime of achievements in scientific research, education and senior statesman-like contributions to public policy”. Other honors include the CIBA-GEIGY Exceptional Black Scientist Award, the Thomas Alva Edison Science Award, the Martin Marietta Aircraft Company Scholarship and Fellowship, the Prince Hall Masons Scholarship, the National Science Foundation Traineeship, and a Ford Foundation Advanced Study Fellowship.
In 1998, Dr. Jackson was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame for “her significant contributions as a distinguished scientist and advocate for education, science and public policy”. She was also named one of the 50 Most Important Women in Science by Discover magazine. Jackson was recognized in a book published by Essence, titled 50 of The Most Inspiring African-Americans. In 2008, Jackson was honored with the L’Oreal USA For Women in Science Role Model Award, for raising awareness of the critical role that women play in the sciences.
Dr. Jackson is married to Dr. Morris A. Washington, a physics professor at Rensselaer, and the couple has one son, Alan, a graduate of Dartmouth College.
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Concrete Loop features ‘Black History Spotlights’ each week honoring black people who have played pivotal roles in history. submissions are welcome.
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Now that is a African American woman with POWER! Go Dr. Jackson! You are definitely a trailblazer for WOMEN and the black community! Just goes to show that if you believe, you can achieve!
She is such an inspiration to young people everywhere including myself. CL, you are doing an awsome!
Shirley [Dr. Jackson} is most definitely a national and ‘world’ treasure. She’s s very talented and humble sister. She stands alone in her accomplishments.
Oh shoot RPI represent!!!!!!!
I was floored by the staggering number of honorary doctoral degrees Dr. Jackson holds. I truly admire her efforts, even as they are short-listed here. The work she has accomplished transcends all demographic trappings, particularly race and gender.
I loved to read about the trailblazers in our communnity, those by works destroy the generalization about who can and cannot do. Everytime someone like Dr. Jackson achieves a “first”, it opens floodgates for the next generation to flood new avenues, allowing them to do so as simply another person and not necessarily needing the “black” label as a precursor or disclaimer to their achievement.
yes Dr. Jackson you go girl!!! I live right down the street from that college! Anyway Thanx for the post! She is the HBIC lol
Shouts out to CL for recognizing the Honorable Dr. Jackson!!
RPI, stand up!! I’m proud to say that I’m a graduate of this “Ivie”.
Peace & Blessings!
Well, it’s somewhat refreshing and promising to go from reading a post full of racism, to a post of a highly educated sis! She has a great inspiring story.
Very Good!!
We need more people like her.
Wonderful story about another RHS alumna..one correction however, DC schools were desegregated in 1954. By the time Dr. Jackson graduated, the school system had been integrated for 10 years.
Not only is Dr. Jackson smart but she can hand dance her hips off!!
Wow! I work for NASA and we recruit at RPI all the time. I had no idea.
Thanks for the information.
Wow! That’s excellent. We need more African-Americans in math and science fields.
…Hey J.Dakar, can you do a post on Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs who just passed. She was also a pioneer.
Disregard. Just saw it .. I was reading the posts from the top down.
Go dr jackson RPI is in my area im so happy she getting reconized for her hard work.
Hey Concreteloop thanks for posting Dr. Shirley Jackson, I had the chance to meet her when I was working at MIT and she is an intelligent woman with a heart of gold. I was actually in awe of her when I met her, I really didn’t know what to say, but once the nerves calmed down we had a nice little chat! She is what you call a strong black woman who has power!
Keep up the good work Concreteloop post like these need to be posted more often, it definetly inspires us to do more in our communities!
I thank ConcreteLoop for doing the spotlight on Dr. Jackson. I am currently a student at RPI and she is very personable, even having monthly sessions where she meets with the students. She is definitely a trailblazer. In addition to what was said before, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
I think Dr. Jackson is a soror (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.) too! Good Look!!
As a fellow Scientist (Chemist), I was honored to meet Dr. Jackson at a meeting a few years ago.
So BIG shout out to all my sista’s in Science!!!
I remember when I wanted to work in the field of astrophysics. It was because my mom used to take me to her job for “take your daughter to work day” lol. They used to have the coolest stuff for us to do…. (thinks back in awe lol). Anywho, you would think w/ ppl who have actual talent would get paid millions or be “celebrities” but no… we’re socialized to worship ppl who got lucky. In a perfect world, Dr. Jackson and her peer would be the headliners in these blogs. Not tidbits… headliners.
*sheesh.. I had no idea*
WOW!!! She is truly an AMAZING woman. (*I had to l00k up theoretical physics*) I guess this type of information is not relevant in todays society.. due to the lack of comments. This will definitely be a person that I will encourage my young son, nieces, and nephews to research.
Hats of to CL and J. Dakar for enlightening us on these type of figures in our community!
I love these spotlights…She’s really an inspiration
kudos.
#10: Check out this link.
She’s amazing, I’m glad I knew about her already!!!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHTS!!!!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK CL!
As always concreteloop brings good information to its readership. I appreciate this more than you know. I can now share this with my kids and get some new people covered when we do Black History projects.(I also had to look up theoretical physics). This is a refreshing to read!
WOW!!! Amazing…she’s very inspirational and such a strong role model in our society..
Shout outs to Dr. Jackson
J,
ONCE AGAIN YOU DELIVERED JEWELS, THANK YOU! I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF HER AND I’M GLAD YOU GAVE HER SOME EXTRA SHINE HEAR ON THE LOOP, ALSO I APPRECIATE THE LINK YOU POSTED FOR #10, THAT’S A DIAMOND IN ITSELF!
43 doctorial degrees!!! Hot damn…and my dumb ass is just working on my A.S.
sumumabich!
All jokes aside this I am soo proud of Dr. Jackson. You go Queen!!
Hey LAURIE!!! Very proud of Dr. Jackson. I graduated from RPI in 2003 and she represents very well! Even though RPI was already a highly distinguised institute, she has brought it even further into the spotlight. And we do need MORE Blacks in the math and sciences, men and women alike. I was the only black female majoring in chemical engineering in my class year. We have to start pushing ourselves and our children in that direction, because we need more Shirley Jacksons.
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Thanks so much for this post. As a young black woman studying to get a doctoral degree Dr. Jackson’s story is a great inspiration for me. Thanks Concreteloop for uplifting our black heroes and heroines!