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The Physicists

We appreciate that the definition of a physicist is broader than the old definition of “only those have physics degrees”, particularly in the current multidisciplinary academic landscape. This page includes all of the African American women with PhDs who identify as physicists. In some cases, a person may have a degree in Electrical Engineering or Physical Chemistry, but the science that she does is physics. If they participate in the physics community and identify themselves as physicists—we include them on this page.

We have also included 4 pioneers—women who due to various circumstance did not finish their PhD, but studied advanced physics before 1980.

If you believe that you or someone you know should be included on this list, if you have a correction or update, or if you’d like to be removed please contact us using the link above.

Graduation YearNameFieldGrad SchoolUndergradEmployer
2002Claudette OwensPhysicsAlabama A&M UniversityUniversity of Alabama at HuntsvilleBethel Development, LLC d/b/a Quantus Link, LLCBethel
Graduate StudentKaylah McGowanPhysics/AstrophysicsFisk University BridgeThe University of Arizona
Graduate StudentZeph KaffeyMedical PhysicsMD AndersonDePaul University
Graduate StudentAmber YoungPlanetary Sciences and AstronomyNorthern Arizona UniversityPennsylvania State University
Graduate StudentShaniya JarrettAstrophysicsFisk UniversityUniversity of Colorado, Boulder
2021Jamila PeguesAstronomy & AstrophysicsHarvard UniversityPrinceton UniversityPostdoctoral Fellow at Space Telescope Science Institute
Graduate StudentAysia DembyEngineering PhysicsUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity of California, Berkeley
Graduate StudentSarah FrancisPhysicsHoward UniversityXavier University of Louisiana
2022Charlezetta Elizabeth StokesPhysics and AstronomyHoward UniversityHoward UniversityPREM Postdoctoral Fellow, Howard University
2011Desiré Whitmore Chemical and Material Physics UC IrvineUCLAExploratorium
2022Damilola E. OlogunagbaPhysicsFlorida A&M UniversityFederal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Nigeria
2013Katemari RosaPhysics Education Research
Columbia University (New York, NY)
Federal University of Rio Grande do SulFederal University of Bahia, Brazil
2020Amy SteeleAstronomyUniv of Maryland at College Park (PhD, MS) (Wesleyan, MA)Williams CollegeMcGill University
2021Morgane KönigPhysicsUniversity of California, DavisUniversity of Pierre and Marie Curie, ParisPostdoctoral fellow at MIT and Dartmouth College
2022Kenisha FordPhysicsHoward UniversitySpelman CollegeNaval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD)
2020Ardelia Michelle Clarke PhysicsVanderbilt UniversityWake Forest UniversityNational Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Graduate StudentRutendo Jakachira PhysicsBrown UniversityDrew University
Graduate StudentTenley Hutchinson-Smith Astronomy & AstrophysicsUC Santa CruzSpelman College
2021Diana Powell AstronomyUC Santa CruzHarvard UniversityHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Grad StudentAmina DiopAstronomyWilliams CollegeUniversity of Virginia
Grad StudentMarium FernandersAstrochemistry / Planetary ScienceCU BoulderNorth Carolina State University
Grad StudentKat MulomaPhysical Chemistry and AstrochemistryUC BerkeleyHope College
2022Mersaydes Goodson PhysicsAlabama A&M UniversityOakwood UniversityDTE Energy
Graduate StudentL. Miché AaronPlanetary ScienceJohns Hopkins UniversityWesleyan University
2021Belinda D. Cheeseboro PhysicsWest Virginia UniversityAndrews UniversitySmithsonian Institution | National Museum of African American History and Culture
2021Sharah ZaabPhysics Howard UniversityUniversity of PittsburghUS Patent and Trademark Office
2021Stacyann NelsonPhysicsFlorida A & M UniversityUniversity of Technology, Jamaica
2003Renee S. Payne BaggottPhysicsHampton UniversityUNC-CH and North Carolina Central UniversityUS Navy Reserve and NATO ACT
2013Geraldine CochranPhysics Education ResearchFlorida International University Chicago State UniversityRutgers University
2011K. Renee HortonMaterials ScienceUniv. of AlabamaLouisianna State Univ.NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Graduate StudentVictoria BlackmonPhysicsWest Virginia UniversityTexas Tech University
Graduate StudentTracey EdwardsNuclear PhysicsMichigan State UniversityHampton University
Graduate StudentTashalee BillingsPhysicsUniversity of PennsylvaniaFlorida A&M University
Graduate StudentTamra NebabuApplied PhysicsStanford UniversityDuke University
2014Tammy WaltonPhysicsHampton UniversityUniversity of TennesseeFermilab
2021Sinclaire ManningAstronomyUniversity of Texas, AustinHowardUniversity of Massachusetts, Amherst (Post Doc)
2019Simone Hyater-AdamsPhysics Education ResearchUniversity of Colorado, BoulderHampton UniversityDirector of Programs: STEM From Dance
2020Samaiyah FaridAstronomy & AstrophysicsVanderbiltAlabama A&M UniversityYale University
Graduate StudentIsabel J. RodriguezAstrophysicsOregon State Univ.Portland State Univ.Don't have one right now.
Graduate StudentErin FlowersAstrophysicsPrinceton UnivColumbia Univ.
Graduate StudentCourtney CarterAstronomyColumbia UniversityGrinnell College
Graduate StudentChristina WalkerOpticsDelaware StateNotre Dame of Maryland Univ.
2018Chiamaka OkoliPhysicsUniv. of WaterlooUniversity of Nigeria, NsukkaUniv. of Waterloo (Deceased)
2019 (MA) and 2019 (MA)Bryne HadnottEarth and Planetary ScienceJohns Hopkins Univ. (MA) and Cornell University (MA)Washington University in St. LouisFreelance Science Writer and STEM Educator
Graduate StudentAshley WalkerAstrochemistry and Planetary ScienceHoward UniversityChicago State University
Graduate StudentAshley BlackwellElectrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniv. of Illinois ChicagoDillard Univ.
Graduate StudentXandria R. QuichochoPhysicsMichigan State UniversityTexas State UniversityTexas State University
2022Caprice PhillipsAstronomyThe Ohio State UniversityUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock
Graduate StudentMarika E M EdwardsPhysics w/ Astronomy Emphasis, and Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeGraduate Student
Graduate StudentBrianna ThomasAstronomyUniv. of WashingtonHoward Univ.
Graduate StudentIndia JacksonPhysicsGeorgia State UniversityGeorgia State UniversityGraduate Student
2009Taviare HawkinsPhysicsSyracuse University Univ. Iowa in Iowa CitySaint Catherine University
2015Patrice EdwardsPhysicsFlorida A&M UniversityCollege of Coastal Georgia
2008J Bianca JacksonApplied PhysicsUniv. MichiganColumbia UnivGeneral Dynamics Mission Systems
Graduate StudentMichelle LolliePhysicsIndiana Univ. Bloomington (MS), Louisiana State Univ.Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (BS)Graduate Student
Graduate StudentAnalis LawrencePhysicsUniversity of FloridaFlorida International University
Graduate StudentJessica TuckerPhysicsFlorida A&M UniversityEastern Michigan Univ.
1978Marlene H.P. McKettyMedical PhysicsUniversity of FloridaUniv of WisconsinUnknown
2018Candace HarrisPhysicsFlorida A&MSpelmanLLNL
Graduate StudentElizabeth AtangPhysicsUniversity of IdahoUniversity of Fort Hare (South Africa)
Graduate StudentFarrah SimpsonPhysicsBrown UniversityColumbia Univ.
Graduate StudentJamelle Watson-DanielsPhysicsHarvard UniversityBrown University
1951 [MS]Carolyn Beatrice ParkerPhysics Michigan (MS, mathematics, 1941) Harvard (MS, Physics, 1951)Fisk
2018Erin G. CoxAstronomyUniversity of IllinoisUniversity of ArizonaNorthwestern University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA)
2017Mareena Robinson SnowdenNuclear Science and EngineeringMITFlorida A&M UniversityJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Graduate StudentLaNell WilliamsPhysicsVanderbilt University (2016 M.S.), Harvard UniversityWesleyan
2018Jessica Nicole EsquivelPhysicsSyracuse UniversitySaint Mary's University of San Antonio TXPostdoctoral Research Associate at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
2010 [MS]Jessica A HarrisPhysicsFisk University (MS)Grambling State UniversityNational Radio Astronomy Observatory
2020Eileen GonzalesPhysicsCUNY Graduate Center (PhD), San Francisco State (MS)Michigan State51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University
2015Crystal BrayApplied PhysicsStanford UniversityUniversity of California, BerkeleyUber
Graduate StudentBethlee M LindorAstronomy and AstrophysicsUniversity of WashingtonPrinceton University
2014Aomawa ShieldsAstronomy and AstrobiologyUniversity of WashingtonMITUniversity of California, Irvine
1980Deborah JacksonPhysicsStanford Univ.MITNational Science Foundation
2014Bernadette CogswellPhysicsVanderbiltFlorida State UniversityVirginia Technology Univ.
1995Zelda GillsOpticsGeorgia TechGeorgia TechSouthern University
2011Yvonne EdmondsPhysicsStanford UniversityMcKesson
2001Windy HintonNuclear PhysicsHampton Univ.Norfolk State
1972Willie Hobbs MoorePhysics (First)Univ. of MichiganUniv. of MichiganFord
1987Willetta Greene-JohnsonPhysicsUniv. of ChicagoStanford Univ.Loyola Univ. Chicago
2016Whitney IngramPhysicsUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaSandia National Laboratory
2004Vernessa EdwardsPhysics-Optics/LasersAlabama A & M Univ.Alabama A&M Univ.
2014Vera LogginsNuclear PhysicsWayne State Univ.Univ. of Detroit MercyServants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary
2009Vanessa CohenAstronomyUniv. of MarylandUniv. of Missouri-St. LouisMilton Academy
2012Trivia FrazierBiomedical PhysicsTulane Univ.Dillard Univ.Obatala Sciences
2001Trina ColemanTheoretical Nuclear PhysicsHampton UniversityHampton UniversityColeman Comprehensive Solutions, LLC
2003Tracee Jamison HooksElectrical EngineeringNorth Carolina A & THoward Univ.NASA Goddard
2009Tonia VentersAstronomy and AstrophysicsUniv. of ChicagoNASA Goddard Space Flight Center
1990Theda Daniels-RaceElectrical EngineeringCornell Univ.Rice Univ.Louisiana State Univ.
Graduate StudentTeresa MonsuePhysicsVanderbilt
2007Tennille PresleyBiophysicsOhio State Univ.North Carolina A&T State Univ.Winston Salem State Univ.
2008Telana JacksonEngineering ElectrophysicsMorgan State Univ.NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
2012Taeyjuana LyonsPhysicsUniv. of MichiganFlorida State UniversityCisco
2002Tabbetha DobbinsMaterials Science and NanosciencePennsylvania State Univ.Lincoln UnivRowan Univ.
2015Staci BrownPhysicsFlorida A&M UniversityFlorida A&M University
2004Sophia SuarezCondensed Matter PhysicsCity Univ. of New YorkHunter College of CUNYBrooklyn College
Graduate StudentSimone BrookesPhysicsNCSU
1976Sigrid McAfeePhysicsNYU-PolyVassar CollegeRutgers Univ.
1973Shirley Ann JacksonPhysicsMITMITRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2016Sherita MosesApplied PhysicsAlabama A & M Univ.Andrews UniversityLoyola Univ. Chicago
1994Shelia Nash-StevensonPhysicsAlabama A&M UniversityAlabama A&M UniversityNASA
2006Shavesha RutledgeAnalytical ChemistryAmerican UnivAlabama A&M Univ.Cyfor Technology
2005Shannon WatsonExperimental Condensed MatterWillam and MaryFurman UniversityNIST
2012Serena EleyPhysicsUIUCCalifornia Institute of TechnologyColorado School of Mines
2000Sandra BrownCondensed MatterPh.D. MIT; J.D. Fordham UniversityHunter College of CUNYRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2000Ruth D. JonesPhysicsAlabama A & M Univ.NASA Glenn Research Center
1991Reva WilliamsAstrophysicsIndiana Univ. BloomingtonNorthwestern Univ.Bennett College and Univ. of Florida
2010Renata Afi Rawlings-GossBiophysicsUniv. of MichiganFlorida A&M University
2011Rachel McKinseyMedical PhysicsUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonSouthern Univ.e+CancerCare
1977 [MS]Patricia Canty WyattPhysicsMITEmmanuel CollegeGeneral Electric (Deceased)
1997Pamela BlakesleePhysicsMITUniv. of ChicagoWashington State Univ.
Graduate StudentOlivia McAuleyPhysicsBryn MawrUNC-Chapel Hill
1985Nola HyltonApplied PhysicsStanford Univ.MITUniv. of San Francisco
2012Nneka WilliamsStructural Geology and GeophysicsCalifornia Institute of TechnologyCalifornia Institute of TechnologyChevron
1997Njema J. FrazierPhysicsMichigan State Univ.Carnegie Mellon UniversityNational Defense Univ.
2012Nicole CampbellApplied PhysicsUniv. of MichiganUT ArlingtonRaytheon Missile Systems
2010Nia ImaraAstrophysicsUC BerkeleyHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
2010Natanette CraigPhysicsFlorida A & M Univ.Florida A & M Univ.
2001Nadya MasonPhysicsStanford Univ.Harvard UniversityUniv. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2015Myriam TelusGeology and GeoPhysicsUniv. of Hawaii-ManoaUniv of ChicagoHawaii Institute for Geophysics and Planetology
1975Muchere C. RussPhysical ChemistryUniv. of PittsburghHoward Univ.IBM and Huston-Tillotson Univ. (Retired)
2013Monique WalkerPhysicsNC State Univ.Yale
2011Monika Schleier-SmithPhysicsMITHarvardStanford
2021Moiya McTierAstrophysicsColumbiaHarvardChevron
1994Meredith WilliamsGeoPhysicsColumbiaOhio StateChevron
1986Mercedes RichardsAstronomyUniv. of TorontoUniv of West IndiesPenn State Univ.
2012Melissa Harrison FortunaVanderbiltXavierIntel
1986Mary JamesApplied PhysicsStanford Univ.Hampshire CollegeReed College
2007Marty BaylorPhysicsUniv. of Colorado BoulderKenyon CollegeCarleton College
1997Martha GilmorePlanetary ScienceBrown Univ.Franklin & MarshallWesleyan
1999Marta Dark McNeesePhysicsMITUniversity of VirginiaSpelman College
2005Maritza Tavarez-BrownAstronomyUniv. of MichiganHunter College of CUNYForest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
Graduate StudentMarion GreeneBiomedical PhysicsEast California Univ.Hampton Univ.
2013Lynnae QuickEarth and Planetary ScienceJohns Hopkins Univ.North Carolina A&T State Univ.NASA Goddard
2004Lisa DysonPhysicsMITCEO Kiverdi
2001Letemeskel AsfawPhysicsKent State Univ.Addis Ababa Univ.Hope Univ. College in Addis Ababa
2015Leslie UptonApplied PhysicsUniv. of MichiganNational Science Foundation
2013Lauren BosePhysicsUS Santa CruzCalifornia Institute of TechnologyTwitter
2012Lauren Denkins-TaffePhysicsHoward Univ.Howard Univ.Dept of Defense
2003Laura Ariel PhillipsAstrophysicsPrincetonMcGill (Canada)Notre Dame
2007LaQuieta HueyPhysicsAlabama A&MGramblingNASA Marshall Space Flight Center
2004Kristina WoodsPhysicsStanford Univ.CMU
2004Kim LewisApplied PhysicsUniv. of MichiganRensselear Polytechnic Institute
2000Kharissia PettusPhysical ChemistryUC San DiegoUniversity of VirginiaFreelance Science Writer
2021Kelsea GillPhysicsSmith CollegeUniversity of Manchester
2009Kelly NashPhysicsUTSADillardUTSA
Graduate StudentKatrina MillerPhysicsUniv. of ChicagoDuke
1940 [BS]Katherine G. JohnsonPhysicsWest Virginia State (BS) (attended graduate school in the 1940s)
2002Kandis Lea JessupAstrophysicsUniv. of MichiganSWRI
2006Kandice TannerPhysicsUIUCSouth Carolina State UniversityNational Cancer Institute
2019Kalisa VillafanaNuclear PhysicsFlorida StateFlorida A & M Univ.Intel
2015Julie DumasPhysicsRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteXavier University of Louisiana
2014 [MS]Jessica FreemanPhysicsHampton Univ.Hampton Univ.Stratford
2011Jennifer BlumPhysicsUniv. of MichiganColumbia Univ.United States Department of Defense
2014Jedidah IslerAstrophysicsYale Univ.Norfolk State Univ.
2016Jasmine GrahamApplied PhysicsUniv. of South FloridaSouth Carolina State Univ.UF Health Cancer Center (Orlando)
2016Jasmine D. CrenshawMat Sci Eng-BiomaterialsUniv of FloridaNorth Carolina A & T State Univ.HHMI
1997Jarita HolbrookAstronomy & AstrophysicsUCSCCalifornia Institute of TechnologyUniv. of Western Cape (S. Africa)
1976Janet Smith-KintnerPhysicsUniv. of MinnesotaGrinnellCornell Univ. (Deceased)
2007Jami M. Valentine-MillerCondensed Matter PhysicsJohns Hopkins Univ.Florida A&M Univ.U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
2015Ivy Krystal JonesPhysicsHampton Univ.Tuskegee Univ.Aurora Univ.
2000Helen MajorOptics/Plasma PhysicsHoward Univ.Lincoln Univ. (PA)
2014Helen C. JacksonApplied Physics (Nuclear)US Air Force Institute of TechnologyTennessee State UniversitySummit2Sea Consulting
1971 [MS]Hattie CarwellHealth PhysicsRutgers UniversityBennett CollegeUS Department of Energy (Retired)
2012Hadiyah Nicole GreenPhysicsUABAlabama A&M Univ.Morehouse School of Medicine
1996Gillian Reynolds-TitkoPhysicsMITHunter College of CUNYJPMorgan Chase & Co / WRLDS
2015Gayle RatliffPhysicsIllinois Institute of TechnologyFlorida State Univ.Northwestern Univ.
1974 [MS]Francine Wright BellsonPhysicsMITEarlham CollegeMusic Manager
1998Florence Egbe-EtopPhysicsHampton Univ.Bowie State Univ.
1989Fay MarksPhysicsStanford Univ.Swanlight Organization
2010Fana Mulu MoorePhysicsAlabama A & M Univ.Alabama A & M Univ.Aims Community College
2014Fabienne BastienPhysics/AstroVanderbiltBS UMCP; MS FiskPennsylvania State Univ.
1993Evelyn HammondsHistory of ScienceMITSpelman CollegeHarvard (retired)
2001Erica ThompsonOptical PhysicsHampton Univ.FiskIntel Corporation
2017 [MS]Erica Morgan-WestPhysicsFlorida A&M UniversityTennessee State
1977Elvira WilliamsPhysicsHoward Univ.NC CentralShaw Univ.
2003Elaine LalanneApplied PhysicsNew Jersey Institute of TechnologyWellesley CollegeFibertek Inc.
1998Donna Washington StokesPhysicsUniv. of HoustonSouthern Univ.Univ. of Houston
2006Desiree JanghaNuclear and Radiological Physics-Health PhysicsGeorgia TechHampton Univ.AlantiCare
2000Denise Brown-AndersonOptical MaterialsUABCenter for Naval Analysis
2009Delonia WigginsPhysicsFlorida A & M Univ.Broward College
2021Delilah GatesPhysicsHarvardUniversity of Maryland, College Park
1999Dara NormanAstronomyUniversity of WashingtonMITNOIRLab
1990Cynthia R. McIntyrePhysicsMITCouncil on Competitiveness
2013Cynthia PrudenceApplied MathUniv. of Rhode IslandUniv. of Rhode IslandRackspace
1993Claudia AlexanderSpace PhysicsUniv. of MichiganUC BerkeleyJPL (Deceased)
2011Chieze Ibeneche-NnewihePhysicsUT AustinUT AustinBioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
1993Chantale DamasApplied PhysicsUCSDRensselaerThe City Univ. of New York
2010Chanda Prescod-WeinsteinTheoretical CosmologyUniv. of WaterlooHarvardUniversity of New Hampshire
2010Cecille LabudaPhysics-AcousticsUniv. of MississippiUniv. of MississippiUniv. of Mississippi
2002Carol ScarlettPhysicsUniversity of MichiganYaleFlorida A&M University
2010Candice EtsonBiophysicsHarvardHunter College of CUNYWesleyan
2015Cacey Stephens BesterPhysicsUniv. of ChicagoSouthern Univ.Swarthmore College
2020Brooke RussellPhysicsYalePrincetonLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
2018 [MS]Bianca LanePhysicsJHUHampton Univ.NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
1998Beth BrownAstronomyUniv. of MichiganHoward Univ.NASA (Deceased)
1981Barbara A. WilliamsAstronomy (First)Univ. of MarylandUniv of NC GreensboroUniv. of Delaware (retired)
2002Aziza BaccoucheNuclear PhysicsUniv. of MarylandCollege of William & MaryAZIZA Productions, Inc.
2006Ayana Holloway-ArceExperimental High Energy PhysicsHarvard Univ.Princeton Unix.Duke Univ.
1974Arlene P MaclinPhysicsHoward Univ.North Carolina A&T State Univ.Howard Univ. as MSEIP/IREPHU Program Senior Staff
1998Apriel HodariPhysicsHampton Univ.Purdue UnivCenter for Naval Analysis
2001Anouk ShambrookAstronomy & AstrophysicsUniv. of Californa, Santa CruzColumbia UniversityStrategic Solutions
1973Anna J. CobleBiophysics (First)Univ. of IllinoisHoward Univ. (Deceased)
2006Angelina AmadouPhysicsHoward Univ.Univ. Abdou Moumouni, NigerHoward Univ.
2007Angela Osterman MeyerAstronomyGeorgia StateGeorgia TechDurham Academy
2001Andrea StithBiophysicsUniv. of VirginiaUniv. of DelawareUniv. of California, Santa Barbara
2006Andrea SealyAtmospheric ScienceHoward Univ.Jackson State Univ.Caribbean Institute for Meterology and Hydrology
2021Amber K. LenonPhysicsSyracuse UniversitySyracuse University
2003Althea G. BluiettPhysicsHampton Univ.Elizabeth Univ.
2002Alicia UzzleNuclear and Applied PhysicsHampton Univ.Hampton UniversityHuntington Ingalls Industries- Newport News Shipbuilding
1996Alicia Clay-JonesChemical PhysicsUC DavisLoyola Univ. New OrleansGE Capital and Loyola Univ. New Orleans
2004Aisha FieldsOpticsAlabama A & M Univ.Hampton Univ.All African People’s Development & Empowerment Project
2004Adrienne Stiff-RobertsPhysicsUniv. of MichiganSpelmanDuke Univ.
2011Adrienne BlockGeoPhysicsColumbiaOhio StateMastercard