Mae first started thinking of going into space as a child. Her decision was reinforced when at the age of ten she saw a TV program called Star Trek. The Star Trek crew was made up of men and women of all races and nationalities, including an African American woman named Lieutenant Uhura. Mae knew it was a TV show, not real life. Yet Lieutenant Uhura inspired Mae. Women and people of color were not astronauts in the real world at that time. Still, the TV program showed Mae that it was possible.
As an adult, Mae noted that the circle had been completed. In 1993, former astronaut Mae Jemison became the only real astronaut to ever play a part on any of the Star Trek series programs when she appeared on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
What could be next for this engineer, doctor, Peace Corps volunteer, actress, and astronaut? The answer to that question came in an invitation from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Mae accepted a position as professor of Environmental Studies, which she held from 1995 until 2002. She is also a businesswoman. Her company, the Jemison Group, helps developing countries use science and technology to improve the daily lives and well-being of their people. Mae is also a mentor. Her company started The Earth We Share, an international science camp for students. Each year, students ages 12 - 16 spend a month at science camp where they learn to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Mae has also written a very interesting book about her life entitled, Find Where the Wind Goes.
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