Dr. Mae Jemison, renowned for breaking barriers as the first African American woman in space, was born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama. Growing up in Chicago, Illinois, Mae displayed an early interest in science and the arts. Encouraged by supportive parents, she pursued an education that combined her scientific curiosity with her artistic sensibilities. Jemison enrolled at Stanford University at just 16 years old, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and fulfilled the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in African and African-American Studies in 1977. Her diverse educational background laid the foundation for a unique career path that blended scientific pursuit with a commitment to social change.
…