Four Black Women Earn Ph.D.s in Chemistry at Jackson State University

Jackson State University in Mississippi recently held its fall commencement ceremony. Among those receiving degrees were four African American women who all earned Ph.D.s in chemistry.

Nationwide in 2013, 61 African Americans earned a Ph.D. in chemistry so that fact that four African American women earned their doctorate in the field at the mid-year commencement ceremony of just one university is noteworthy.

The chemistry Ph.D. program at Jackson State admitted its first students in 1999 and awarded its first degrees in 2003. Over the past 11 years, 23 African Americans have earned chemistry Ph.D.s, or 2.1 per year. This is the second highest rate for African American Ph.D.s in the field in the United States.

The four women awarded Ph.D.s in chemistry at Jackson State University are Shantelle Hughes, Kristen Lewis, Cassandra McCullum, and Danielle McShan.

PHDLewisDr. Lewis, who completed her undergraduate degree at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, offered some advice to other Black women seeking graduate degrees in STEM disciplines. “Know your end goal and construct a plan for your graduate studies accordingly so you can make the most of your time,” Dr. Lewis says. “Choose a mentor that will challenge you and work with you to accomplish your goals. Lastly, your most valuable commodity is your time. Make sure you are spending it wisely.”

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs