Black women are doing extraordinary things in the S.T.E.M. field. Some are revolutionizing approaches to science and technology, and others are working to provide opportunities in the field to others. Whether they're doing one, the other, or both, they show that dreams can come true. Here are a few Black women who are making changes in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
Dajae "Moe" Williams
Dajae "Moe" Williams uses music to enhance her understanding of complex topics. That unique approach to learning led her to getting a job at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she works as a quality engineer.
When she's not inspecting mechanical and electrical hardware, Williams is working hard to get more students of color into the field of S.T.E.M. With her brand "Listen Up Education," she wants more representation to become a reality.
Click here to listen to her TEDx Talk about the experience.
Ursula Burns
This businesswoman made history by becoming the first Black woman to run a Fortune 500 company. Before Ursula Burns became Xerox's CEO in 2009, she worked throughout the document technology company from product development to planning operations. The engineer brought significant changes to the company before her departure in 2016.
Her work is far from over. She is a founding member of Change the Equation, a nonprofit organization that helps support the growth of S.T.E.M education. She also criticized the corporate America about the lack of Black executives being hired.
Jessica O. Matthews
Jessica O. Matthews is a co-founder of Uncharted Power, a global company that specializes in building and operating renewable power infrastructure. The aim of Uncharted is to turn urban areas into smart cities. She first made headlines for a ball that converts kinetic energy into power.
Her organization also created the Uncharted System, which uses a city's ground to develop what's called an IoT platform. This helps streamline the integration and operation of important power infrastructures, including power grids, water pipes and broadband. Overall, she's a powerhouse in the field of disruptive technology.
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