Shelia Nash-Stevenson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shelia Nash-Stevenson
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| Alma mater | Alabama A&M University |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Marshall Space Flight Center Hughes Aircraft Company |
Meet Shelia Nash-Stevenson, an amazing American physicist and engineer! She made history by becoming the first Black woman in Alabama to earn a PhD in physics. Her work has helped us understand more about space and technology.
Early Life and Education
Shelia grew up in Lawrence County, Alabama. She was a very bright student and finished Austin High School when she was just sixteen years old!
In 1981, she went to Alabama A&M University. There, she studied science, along with electronic and electrical engineering. She was the very first person to complete the physics master's program at Alabama A&M University. During this time, she was also a special NASA Fellow, which means NASA supported her studies.
She even worked at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Her professor, M. C. George, encouraged her to continue her studies and get a PhD. In 1994, Shelia became the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate in physics from Alabama A&M University. This was a huge achievement, especially since she had two children during her studies! She graduated with high honors three times. At that time, fewer than twenty African-American women in the United States had a physics PhD. Shelia was also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Career Highlights
Shelia Nash-Stevenson has had an exciting career! She worked with the United States Army on Ballistic Missile Defense Systems. She even holds a patent for a special device called an optical fiber holder.
She worked as a scientist at Nichols Research Corporation and then as a technical researcher at Hughes Aircraft Company. Later, she joined the instrumentation group at Marshall Space Flight Center's avionics lab, where she worked for almost ten years.
In 1998, Shelia received another NASA Fellowship. She then joined the space craft and vehicle systems group. During her fellowship, she also returned to Alabama A&M University to teach as a professor. She even got to be at Kennedy Space Center to watch the STS-95 space shuttle launch! In 2013, she spoke at a special meeting called the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics.
Community Involvement
Shelia is also very active in her community. In 2013, the city of Huntsville, Alabama recognized her for all her hard work. She is the only African-American person to serve on the Madison City School Board. She is also a member of the Madison Rotary Club, which is a group that helps communities.
She won the Modern Figure award from NASA and was invited to the premiere of the movie Hidden Figures. After the movie came out, she took part in many discussions and interviews. In 2017, she gave a special talk at Elms College. In 2018, the WEDC Foundation honored her with their Women Honoring Women program. She was also featured in the AT&T Alabama African-American calendar.
Personal Life
In her personal life, Shelia Nash-Stevenson is a board member for the First Missionary Baptist Church. She is also a founding member of the Madison Rotary Club in her hometown, showing her dedication to helping others.
