Story and photos by Greg Miley, Speakin’ Out News staff writer and photographer
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) hosted the Week of Welcome (WOW), on August 14- 21, 2021. WOW is held at the start of each semester. The week is filled with social, educational, and informational programs allows the new and returning students the opportunity to interact with other UAH students, faculty, and staff. The keynote speaker for this fall semester 2021 WOW was Dr. Mae Jemison, the first female African American astronaut to travel into space. The event was held on Sunday, August 15, 2021, 2:00 p.m. at Spragins Hall on the UAH campus. She was introduced by Dr. L. Dale Thomas, Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (ISEEM) at UAH. She spoke on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and related that while STEM is necessary it is not sufficient. Dr. Jemison stressed that when the students get their chance at the table they need to contribute and show that they are a valuable part of the team and have a right to be at the table. Dr. Jemison is a native of Decatur, Alabama, and her father worked on Redstone Arsenal as a roofer, Dr. Jemison would later train as an astronaut on Redstone Arsenal. She flew on NASA mission STS-47, aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor, and served as a mission specialist. Dr. Jemison resume’ is quite extensive, she is known for being an astronaut and physician, but beyond that her resume’ includes, but is not limited to, college professor, entrepreneur, author, foundation director and an accomplished dancer. During her lecture she shared that after being accepted into medical school she wanted to delay attending medical school so she could pursue a career as a professional dancer. Her mother told her that as a doctor she could still dance, but she couldn’t doctor if she became a dancer, wisdom from the older generation. Dr. Jemison currently leads 100 Year Starship (100YSS), a far-reaching nonprofit initiative with the goal of ensuring the capabilities exist for human travel beyond our solar system to another star within the next 100 years.