Specialty: Chemical Oceanography
Major Contributions:
Founder and director of the MS PHD’S Professional Development Program
2009 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mathematics Engineering and Mentoring
Co-Founder and Board of Directors Member – Sportin’ the Grades
Image: Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The first African American to earn a degree in marine science from Texas A&M, Dr. Ashanti Johnson has loved the ocean since an early age. Continuing her studies at Texas A&M University, she became the first and only to date African American to earn a doctorate in chemical oceanography.
While working as an assistant professor at the University of South Florida, Johnson was approached by NASA to start a mentoring program that would become the Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science (MS PHD’S). By providing students with professional development and networking opportunities, mentoring relationships, and science exposure it helps participants achieve successful science careers. In 2008 she was named the Executive Director of the Institute for Broadening Participation, the parent organization for MS PHD’S, a role she served in until 2016.
As a result of her dedication towards facilitating the participation of underrepresented minorities in STEM programs and careers, Dr. Johnson was awarded the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mathematics Engineering and Mentoring.
Moving to the University of Texas – Austin in 2013 she was an associate professor of environmental science and served as Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Recruitment.
Seeing the way some student athletes were pushed into a “win-at-all-costs” attitude that didn’t prioritize their educational experience but stressed athletic prowess and success on the field, Johnson co-founded Sportin’ The Grades. This non-profit organization’s mission is the academic STEM enrichment of student-athletes and to prepare these students for educational success and sustainable careers in STEM disciplines, all while they pursue excellence in athletics.
Johnson left UT-Arlington to help encourage another generation in their pursuit of knowledge as the CEO and Superintendent of the newly formed Cirrus Academy – a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Charter School in Macon, Georgia. Johnson is still actively involved in MS PHD’S, Black Girls Dive, and is an associate professor of chemistry at Form Valley State University.
Written by Angela Goad
Sources:
Brightminds Speakers: Dr. Ashanti Johnson
LinkedIn: Ashanti Johnson, Ph.D.
Meet Dr. Ashanti Johnson, the First Black Woman to be a Chemical Oceanographer in the U.S
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