Dr. Walter Massey

Dr. Walter Massey, president of Morehouse College, served as director of Argonne National Laboratory, as the University of Chicago's Vice President for Research, and as founding Chair of the University of Chicago Development Corp. He has directed the National Science Foundation and served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of California System until being chosen Morehouse's ninth president in 1995. His vision for the college, a private liberal arts college for African-American men, is to place it among the finest private undergraduate liberal arts colleges in the world. Massey earned his B.S. from Morehouse in 1958 and his M.S. and his Ph.D. in physics from Washington University in St. Louis. He then held research and teaching positions at the University of Illinois, Brown University and the University of Chicago. Massey has served as President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Trustee of Brown University and Rand Corporation, membership on Argonne's Board of Governors in 2004, Co-chair of the AAAS Steering Committee for the Project to Strengthen the Scientific and Engineering Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa, a member of the National Science Board, on the visiting committee for the physics departments of MIT and Harvard, and on the Superconducting Supercollider Site Evaluation Committee of the National Academies of Science and Engineering.

Dr. Mickens

Ronald E. Mickens is a Fuller E. Callaway professor of physics at Clark Atlanta University. He received his Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Vanderbilt University and has held postdoctoral positions at the Center for Theoretical Physics-MIT, the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics and Vanderbilt University. He has published more than 280 research papers, written six books, and edited nine volumes. Professor Mickens serves on the editorial board of several research journals, including the Journal of Difference Equations and Application and the International Journal of Evolution Equations. His scholarly writings have appeared in reference works such as African American, American National Biography, Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists, Encyclopedia of African American Culture and History, Notable Black American Men, the Society for Mathematical Biology, the History of Science Society and Notable Black American Women, for which he is an elected fellow. His current research interests include nonlinear oscillations, difference equations, and numerical integration of differential equations using nonstandard finite differences schemes, mathematical modeling of periodic diseases, and the history/sociology of African Americans in science.

Hattie Carwell

During her 30- year technical career, Hattie Carwell has worked nationally and internationally for the U.S. Department of Energy and the International Atomic Energy Agency as a health physicist and nuclear safeguards group leader. Currently, she is a senior physical scientist at the Berkeley Site Office at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Carwell assures that research and operations at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are performed safely and consistently with federal, state and local requirements. She also has served as Program Manager for High Energy Physics and Nuclear Science Programs. She received her B.S. degree from Bennett College in Chemistry and Biology and M.S. degree in health physics from Rutgers University. She also studied biophysics at the doctoral level at UC Berkeley.

Hattie has authored numerous articles and technical papers. Also, she has published books on black science achievement such as Blacks in Science: Astrophysicist to Zoologist , and In Pursuit of Excellence: Dr Warren Henry, World Class Scientist.

Currently, she is a Board Member of the Northern California Council of Black Professional Engineers, an organization of which she is a past President. She is treasurer for the National Council of Black Engineers and Scientists, co-founder and chair of the Development Fund for Black Students in Science and Technology, and Director of the Museum of African American Technology (MAAT) Science Village. MAAT Science Village archives information on African American achievements in science and engineering; develops hands-on science demonstrations and activities for k-12 students to enhance their science skills; sponsors the MAAT Science Village Chess Club and Oakland Math Circle; hosts the Scholars of African Descent lectures series to motivate youth to consider technical careers.

Over the past five years she has spearheaded the development a project to introduce solar energy technology in a village in Ghana and in the Alameda County solar Energy Partnership.

She is recipient of numerous performance awards from the Department of Energy, and recognized as a community leader. She is a distinguished alumna of Bennett College and included in the Black College Hall of Fame. Her achievements are annotated in biographical publications such as Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering and Who’s Who Among African Americans

Dr. Mae Jemison

Dr. Mae C. Jemison is founder of BioSentient Corporation and is the first woman of color in the world to go into space, flying aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in September 1992. She has served six years as a NASA astronaut and served as NASA’s first Science Mission Specialist performing experiments in material science, life science and human adaptation to weightlessness. Afterwards, she founded the technology consulting firm The Jemison Group, Inc. She also ran The Jemison Institute for Advancing Technologies in Developing Countries and founded the international science camp The Earth We Share™ for students 12-16 years old. Dr. Jemison has served as the Area Peace Corps Medical Officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia and was a general practice doctor in Los Angeles. Presently, she serves as Chair of the Texas State Product Development and Small Business Incubator Board and Chair of Texas State Biotechnology and Life Sciences Industry Cluster. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Scholastic, Inc., Valspar Corporation and Gen-Probe Inc. Dr. Jemison hold membership in the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame, the Texas Science Hal of Fame and an inductee of National Women’s Hall of Fame. She is the winner of the Kilby Science Award and was selected as one of the top seven women leaders in a presidential ballot national straw poll. Dr. Jemison is the author of Find Where the Wind Goes, has appeared on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, hosted the Discovery Channel’s World of Wonder and was chosen one of People Magazine’s “World’s 50 Most Beautiful People”. She currently serves as an environmental studies professor at Dartmouth College and was an A.D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University. Dr. Jemison received her undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering and African and Afro-American Studies from Stanford University and received her medical degree from Cornell University.

Esteria Johnson

Esteria Johnson is Chief Learning Consultant for Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Services and the manager of Lockheed Martin Apprenticeship Programs. She was the chief architect for Lockheed Martin’s Information Technology Registered Apprenticeship Program for high school underrepresented students. Through the program, African American students are employed, coached, trained and mentored, as they begin their careers at the world’s largest aerospace corporation. The program has recently won the 2006 Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Award. Johnson recently architected a new national apprenticeship model for Chapter 31 (disabled) veterans. This new Lockheed Martin program has received the 2007 U.S. Department of Labor Private Sector Award for hiring and training disabled veterans. Additionally, Johnson is responsible for managing multiple Strategic Development Programs including the Information Technology Apprenticeship, K-12 Initiatives, and Early Career Talent Management. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Systems Design from the Pennsylvlania State University, is a certified teacher and a former Director of Education. She is a key of member of the Learning Strategy Council and other strategic teams, including Capture Process, Focus on Ability, and Shape the Future Workforce.

Richard McGinnis

Richard McGinnis received his B.S. in Chemistry for the University of California and his A.M. and PhD from Harvard University. He has served as pre-medical adviser, chair of the Chemistry Department, Dean of the Natural Sciences Division, Acting Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Acting Provost for Tougaloo College. There he implemented a self-paced, audio-tutorial chemistry course and was instrumental in increasing the role of on-campus research for faculty and students. Dr. McGinnis has performed research at Brown University, where he was a visiting professor, and at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics at the University of Colorado. He has served as Project Director/Principal Investigator for the Health Careers Opportunity Program and the LSAMP/MGE programs with the University of Alabama. He was the Co-PI for Tougaloo’s HBCU-UP grant and is the Site Coordinator for the Health Professions Alliance Partnership program with the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Dr. McGinnis has been honored by Tougaloo College, the Minority Medical Education Foundation of Mississippi, the National Association of Minority Medical Educators and the Mississippi Medical and Surgical Association.

Dr. Saundra McGuire

Dr. Saundra Yancy McGuire is the Director of the Center for Academic Success, Adjunct Professor of Chemistry, and Associate Dean of University College at Louisiana State University. She received her B.S. degree, magna cum laude, from Southern University, M.A. from Cornell University, and Ph.D. in Chemical Education from the University of Tennessee. Dr. McGuire has previously held academic appointments at The State University of New York, The University of Tennessee, and Alabama A & M University, and Cornell University. She is actively involved in university curriculum reform efforts, and has written numerous study guides, work books, and teaching guides. Dr. Yancy is a much sought-after consultant who has presented workshops and keynote addresses at numerous institutions across the country. Her most recent accolades include the Council on Chemical Research Diversity Award, the Dr. Henry C. McBay Outstanding Chemistry Teacher Award, the National Service Award, the Teaching in Higher Education Conference Outstanding Presentation Awards, YWCA Woman of Achievement, the Chancellor’s Citation for Exceptional Professional Promise, and the Clark Distinguished Teaching Award.

Dr. Diola Bagayoko

Dr. Diola Bagayoko, Director of the Timbuktu Academy at Southern University, is a Southern University System Distinguished Professor of Physics and statewide Director of the Louis Stokes Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation program (www.ls-lamp.org). A native of Bamako, Mali (in West Africa), he earned the BS degree in Physics and Chemistry from the Ecole Normale Supérieure of Bamako, the MS in the Physics from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the Ph.D. in condensed matter theory from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Dr. Bagayoko has over 130 publications, with over 80 of them in theoretical physics and 50 on teaching, mentoring, and learning. Established in 1990, the Timbuktu Academy is a systemic mentoring, academic enhancement, and research participation program for elementary to undergraduate students, with the primary focus on science, mathematics, engineering and technology (STEM) disciplines (www.phys.subr.edu/timbuktu.htm). The Academy received the US Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in 2003. Financial support for the Timbuktu Academy has come from the Office of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Louisiana Board of Regents, NASA, and the ExxonMobil Foundation (through the Bernard Harris Foundation).

Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson Jr.

Vice Admiral Adam Robinson, a native of Louisville, Ky., is the Chief of the Navy Medical Corps. He entered the naval service in 1977 and holds a Doctor of Medicine from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. Following completion of his surgical internship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, he was commissioned.

Vice Adm. Robinson’s first assignment was as a General Medical Officer, Branch Medical Clinic, Fort Allen, Puerto Rico, before reporting to the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., in 1978 to complete a residency in General Surgery. His subsequent duty assignments included: Staff Surgeon, U.S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan, and Ship’s Surgeon, USS Midway (CV-41).

After completing a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Carle Foundation Hospital, University of Illinois School of Medicine (1984-85), Vice Adm. Robinson reported to the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, as the Head of the Colon and Rectal Surgery Division. While there, he was called to temporary duty in 1987 as Ship’s Surgeon in USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and in 1988 as Ship’s Surgeon in USS Coral Sea (CV-43).

Vice Adm. Robinson reported to Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va., in 1990 as the Head of the General Surgery Department and Director of General Surgery Residency Program. He was appointed Acting Medical Director for the facility in 1994. While at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Vice Adm. Robinson earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Florida. In 1995, Vice Adm. Robinson reported to the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, as the Force Medical Officer serving in that capacity for two years. Following that assignment, he reported to Naval Hospital Jacksonville in 1997 as the Executive Officer. In January 1999, as Fleet Hospital Jacksonville Commanding Officer, Vice Adm. Robinson commanded a detachment of the fleet hospital as a medical contingent to Joint Task Force Haiti (Operation New Horizon/Uphold Democracy).

Luther Williams

Luther Williams served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean. Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Prior to that he served as the William T. Kemper Director of Education and Interpretation at the Missouri Botanical Garden and designed the Garden Education Compact. He received his B.A. in biology from Miles College, an M.S. degree from Clark-Atlanta University, and a Ph.D. degree in microbial physiology from Purdue University. Williams previously held positions include Assistant Director of Education and Human Resources for the National Science Foundation and Deputy Director of the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences, NIH. He has chaired the White House Biotechnology Science Coordinating Committee and the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education. Williams has served as Assistant Provost and Director of Minority Center for Graduate Education at Purdue; Dean of the Graduate School at Washington University; Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has also taught biology at Purdue, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Washington University. Willaims is the author of over 50 publications in professional scientific journals. He was selected as one of the “50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science” by Science Spectrum magazine and was the recipient of the William A. Hinton Research Training Award, seven honorary doctorate degrees and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).

Awards Youth Finalist

Mariah Tanae Daniel

Mariah Tanae Daniel is 14 years old. She is an eighth grade student at Harper-Archer Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia where she plays the clarinet in the school’s band. She is a member of Cheerleading Squad. In her spare time she likes to read and dance. Mariah enjoys learning new things and conducting experiments. She has been an honor student for 5 years. Her dream is to attend Florida A & M University and become a Forensic Scientist so that she can be a major part of the medical and criminal justice organizations.

Tyrome C. Miller

Tyrome C. Miller II is a sophomore student in the Science and Technology program at Oxon Hill High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Tyrome has a strong desire to pursue a career as an Aeronautical Engineer or Biologist. He is a member of the varsity wrestling team, a Cadet 2nd Lt. in the Air Force JROTC, and has made the honor roll since elementary school. Tyrome is an active volunteer in his community. He has volunteered with projects such as Senior Days, area parades and various church ministries.

At Oxon Hill Tyrome is an active member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA); a junior member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and he’s the secretary and gesture for the Science and Technology Advisory Board (TAB). Tyrome has attended the University of District of Columbia’s Science, Math & Engineering, and Aerospace Academy Summer Program since 1999. Which has allowed him to participate in special trips to visit NASA and other activities specifically for excelling students.

Tyrome is an energetic, enthusiastic young man who is determined to make a positive difference in his home, community, country, and the World.

Andreas Lutz Wierschen

Andreas is the only child of his father, an immigrant of Germany and his mother a native of Ohio. Having achieved the highest rank of Eagle Scout, with the Boy Scouts of America, Andreas has excellent skills in leadership and community service. Popular with students and teachers alike, he has been commended for selflessly setting aside his work to help fellow classmates. This dedicated student has devotes himself to learning and achieving his goals not though mediocrity, but with excellence, always striving to be the best that he can be. Since he was very young he has aspired to be a scientist and has steadily worked towards that goal, excelling in all of his courses. Andreas is also a gifted and accomplished pianist. Beginning lessons at the age of five he has studied music for most of his life and has been employed as the church pianist since the age of 10. In his collegiate career he intends double major in Chemistry and Material science. Andreas has said that one day he will do something great in the field of science. Those that know him believe this beyond a doubt.