BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here
Edit Story

An Interview With Dr. Shirley Jackson, The Ultimate Role Model For Women In Science

T-Mobile for Business

In honor of Women's History Month, T-Mobile for Business recognizes the many achievements of outstanding women whose work has been integral to the technologies we rely on today. As part of this effort, we reached out to Dr. Shirley Jackson, Ph.D., D.L. (Hon.), D.Sc. (Hon.), and president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), to find out how she achieved her innovative academic and scientific accomplishments.

Dr. Jackson holds a B.S. in Physics, and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). She is the first African American woman to receive a doctorate of any kind from the university. In addition to the doctorate, Jackson has received 55 honorary doctoral degrees, numerous awards, and leadership roles across academia, government, and scientific industries. These honors are a reflection of her revolutionary work and ability to bring together experts from all walks of life to create solutions that will benefit the world. She is why words like “extraordinary” were invented.

Jackson spent her early career at Bell Labs where she helped produce discoveries that led to the fax machine, touch tone phones, solar cells, fiber optic cables, caller ID, and call waiting. In the 1990’s, after spending four years teaching physics at Rutgers University in Maryland, Jackson moved on to other roles such as Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission from 1995 to 1999. Upon leaving the agency in 1999, she took on her current role as President of RPI where they are researching the challenges of humanity in energy, water and food security, national and global security, human health, climate change and the allocation of scarce natural resources. While President of RPI, she was asked to participate on numerous advisory boards such as Co-Chair of the President Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board and the Advisory Council of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations while spearheading formation of the International Nuclear Regulators Association.

T-Mobile talked with Jackson to find out more about her incredible story. The challenges she faced and how she rose above them to become a highly respected scientist and educator – and what her advice would be to other women focusing on STEM fields of study.

T-Mobile: What are some of more memorable, formative moments in your professional journey?

Jackson: I grew up with wonderful parents who encouraged my interests in science. I garnered both an excellent educational foundation and great encouragement in the public schools of Washington, D.C., graduating as valedictorian of my high school class.

It was not until I arrived at MIT as an undergraduate that I encountered recognizable obstacles. In 1964, MIT was, as it is today, a challenging and thrilling place to receive an education. It also was rather cold on the personal front. I was one of just two African American women in my class, and the other students were sometimes quite unfriendly.

When I was thinking of majoring in physics and sought the advice of a distinguished professor, his response was "Colored girls should learn a trade." I was taken aback and hurt that this professor thought so little of my prospects—especially since I had the highest grades in his class. But I knew that in life, there are both chances and choices. Chance made me an African American female—a heritage I proudly embrace. I also saw that I had a choice. I could give in to ignorance or persevere and pursue excellence. I chose the latter and made physics my "trade".

Nonetheless, I decided to remain at MIT for graduate school in theoretical elementary particle physics, because I knew I could make a difference there. Inspired by the courage of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders … I co-founded the Black Students’ Union. I also joined a task force on educational opportunity. Our recommendations persuaded MIT to actively recruit minority students for the first time. The students I helped to bring to MIT proved that talent and success in science and engineering is not limited to one race, gender, or story of origin.

Which qualities and strengths helped you the most along the way?

My parents always emphasized the value of hard work, of service to others, and of striving for excellence. My father, who encouraged my interests in science, used to say, “Aim for the stars, so that you can reach the treetops and, at least, you will get off the ground.” In other words, if you do not aim high, you will not go far.

Did you have mentors who helped you along the way?

Many, including several remarkable African American women who were my teachers in high school. Clearly, in another era, they would have been college professors. Another mentor was MIT President Paul Gray. Paul taught me about leadership, the importance of taking what could have been an adversarial situation and instantly identifying shared objectives. And he taught me that I was a leader.

Did you always believe you could get where you are today?

I could not possibly have planned the path that I have taken. Rather, at particular moments in my own history and in the history of the nation, unexpected windows of opportunity opened for me. Fortunately, I was blessed with the courage required to use my talents in a new context and on a broader field.

What role does ambition play vs. other attributes like intelligence or talent in achieving the things one wants from life?

Striving for excellence in everything one does is key. However, it has not been ambition that has driven me, as much as the sense of service I learned from my parents. Throughout my career, I have seen where I could be useful, and I have made the most of those opportunities.

Of all your accomplishments, which make you most proud?

I am proud of many of them. But the proudest day in my career is May 19, 2016, when President Barack Obama awarded me the National Medal of Science. I was recognized for my research achievements, for my achievements in science-rooted public policy, and for inspiring the next generation of STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] talent. Indeed, those are the three fields in which I have strived to make a difference, so it was very gratifying to receive national recognition in them.

Who were some of the inspirational women in your life and why?

While I was an undergraduate at MIT, I had the privilege of taking a graduate-level course in condensed matter physics from Millie Dresselhaus, Ph.D., the first tenured woman professor at MIT. She is often called “the queen of carbon science.” Millie became a mentor and friend. She certainly understood what it meant to defy those who had low expectations of women … she nearly single-handedly launched the field of carbon nanoscience—while raising four young children.

Theoretical elementary particle physicist Mary K. Gaillard, Ph.D., was another inspiration. Mary K. and I met at Fermilab in 1973. I greatly admired the way Mary K. managed a challenging career, under challenging circumstances. She was conducting groundbreaking research … while raising three children, organizing conferences around the world, and being consistently undervalued by her home institution. But she handled it all with aplomb and stayed focused on the work.

What skills can women focus on and develop to become successful at whatever they do?

The skills vary with the field, but certain qualities are universal among high-achieving women: tenacity, a focus on excellence, a stubborn unwillingness to be dissuaded from the work they most enjoy, and the empathy for others—that is at the heart of leadership.

Do women who run or own small businesses inspire you?

As a whole, the corporate sector in the United States does not offer sufficient opportunities to women, particularly at that first step up to manager. This helps to explain why so many women are starting their own businesses, including women of color. I admire anyone who, when confronted by a barrier, determinedly blazes her own trail.

What advice can you give other women, particularly small business owners, about the skills, qualities, and character strengths they need to succeed?

Planning will help you lead. At both of the large organizations I have headed—the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute—strategic planning has allowed me to make transformative changes. The value of a strong, clear plan is that it helps others to understand one’s vision and guides decision-making throughout the organization.

At the same time, in a world characterized by upheaval …. it is important to ready oneself to take advantage of surprising turns of events. Find the opportunities within the surprises and optimize them to achieve results.

What advice would you give women who just graduated from college in STEM-related fields to help them get their careers off the ground?

I would assure them, first, that they can realize their dreams. But I would also advise them to be prepared to encounter unconscious bias from people in authority, so as not to be hamstrung by it. I would tell them to allow no one to rob them of their confidence. I would advise them, also, to become so undeniably excellent that even the most chauvinistic of bosses or advisors cannot withstand their brilliance. And finally, I would tell them never to give up, because the world needs their talents and their ideas.

What advice would you give women over 50 in STEM related fields?

I would advise women over 50 in STEM fields to keep looking for unexpected windows of opportunity and for ways to apply their accumulated wisdom, including in science or technology policy. I also would advise them not to believe anyone who tells them they should be shifting into a lower gear!

I was nearly 53 years old when I assumed the presidency of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an exhilarating new challenge. Since then, I have served in government advisory roles at the highest level. I have served on the boards of leading corporations, including IBM and FedEx, and other leading entities that include the Smithsonian Institution and the Nature Conservancy, where I help to address the greatest challenges faced by our planet. It has been a fascinating journey, one that only has gotten more fascinating over the decades.

What are your thoughts on wireless technologies today, particularly 5G?

We are in the midst of a pandemic that has forced all of us to rethink remote learning—and ways to offer students the kind of hands-on experiences they would otherwise have had in laboratories and workshops. Faster data transfer will be key to educational innovation moving forward, including immersive educational experiences. And, of course, 5G will enable the entire cyber-physical realm, everything from autonomous vehicles to smart vertical farming.

What other technologies do you find especially exciting today?

At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, we believe that research under two broad umbrellas will shape the future. The first is “Infrastructural Resilience, Sustainability, and Stewardship,” which relies on advances in energy, materials, the built environment, and smart systems to protect our natural environment. The other, we term, “Digital Meets Reality,” which is the application of high-performance computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, sensor technology, data visualization, and immersive technologies of all kinds, to our understanding of the physical world around us.

T-Mobile for Business is proud to honor the many extraordinary women throughout history that have helped to make the world we live in a better place. To learn more about other women like Dr. Shirley Jackson who push through the obstacles to achieve their goals, check out this article about Cheryl Keeler, a VP of Sales at T-Mobile for Business, as she talks about how she managed her less than perfect road to success and what she is doing now to help others navigate their own journeys.