Shirley Ann Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirley Ann Jackson
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| Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board | |
| In office August 29, 2014 – January 20, 2017 Serving with Jami Miscik
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | David Boren Chuck Hagel |
| Succeeded by | Steve Feinberg |
| President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | |
| In office July 1, 1999 – July 1, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Cornelius Barton |
| Succeeded by | Martin A. Schmidt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 5, 1946 Washington, D.C. |
| Spouse | Morris Washington |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS, MS, PhD) |
Shirley Ann Jackson (born August 5, 1946) is a famous American physicist. She was the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Dr. Jackson made history as the first African American woman to earn a doctorate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her PhD was in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics. She is also the second African American woman in the United States to earn a doctorate in physics.
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Early Life and Education
Shirley Ann Jackson was born in Washington, D.C.. She went to Roosevelt Senior High School. After finishing high school in 1964, she decided to study theoretical physics at MIT. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1968.
Dr. Jackson continued her studies at MIT for her doctorate. She received her Ph.D. degree in nuclear physics in 1973. This made her the first African American woman to earn a doctorate from MIT. Her research was guided by Professor James Young. She was also the second African American woman in the U.S. to get a physics doctorate. In 2002, Discover magazine named her one of the 50 most important women in science.
Work at Bell Laboratories
In 1976, Dr. Jackson joined the Theoretical Physics Research Department at AT&T Bell Laboratories. She studied the basic properties of different materials. She focused on materials used in the semiconductor industry. Semiconductors are important for making computer chips and other electronic devices.
She worked in different research departments at Bell Labs. Her research looked at how light and electricity behave in very thin materials. She also taught at Rutgers University from 1991 to 1995. During this time, she continued to advise Bell Labs on semiconductor theory.
Leading the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
In 1995, President Bill Clinton chose Dr. Jackson to be the chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This was a big step, as she was the first woman and first African American to hold this important job. The NRC makes sure that nuclear power plants are safe.
At the NRC, she was in charge of all actions related to emergencies involving nuclear materials. She also helped create the International Nuclear Regulators Association. This group brings together nuclear safety leaders from different countries. Dr. Jackson led this association from 1997 to 1999.
President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
On July 1, 1999, Dr. Jackson became the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). She was the first woman and first African American to lead RPI. Her main goal for RPI was to make it a top-tier global research university.
She created a plan called The Rensselaer Plan. Under her leadership, RPI raised over $1 billion in donations. She also oversaw major building projects. These included the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center and the East Campus Athletic Village. Dr. Jackson stepped down from her role as president on July 1, 2022, after 23 years.
Honors and Awards
Dr. Jackson has received many awards and honors throughout her career.
- She received fellowships like the National Science Foundation Traineeship.
- In the early 1990s, she received the Thomas Alva Edison Science Award. This award recognized her contributions to physics and her work to promote science.
- In 1998, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. This was for her important work as a scientist and her efforts in education and public policy.
- She received the Richtmyer Memorial Award in 2001 from the American Association of Physics Teachers.
- In 2007, she was given the Vannevar Bush Award for her lifetime achievements in science and education.
- In 2014, she received the National Medal of Science. This is one of the highest honors for scientists in the United States.
- In 2012, she became an International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng).
- In 2021, she received the Hans Christian Oersted Medal from the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Personal Life
Shirley Ann Jackson is married to Morris A. Washington. He is a physics professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. They have one adult son. She is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Philanthropy
In 2019, Dr. Jackson and her husband were recognized for their charitable giving. They were named to the first class of the Capital Region Philanthropy Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Shirley Ann Jackson para niños
