Girls Can Do Science Too

STEM Inspiration - Cierra McDonald is a Senior Programming Manager. McDonald has made a name for herself as a game developer in Microsoft’s Xbox Advanced Technology Group. Thank you Cierra for being a STEM Inspiration

Dr. Ericsson became the first African American woman to receive a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Howard University. In fact, throughout her career, she has achieved a series of “firsts,” including being the firstperson of color to receive the Washington Award from the Western Society of Engineers.

During her 25-plus years with NASA, she has worked as an engineer, technologist, project manager and executive. She has led teams developing instruments for a variety of missions, including the Near-Infrared Spectrograph on the James Webb Space Telescope and the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter. She currently serves as new business lead for the Instrument Systems and Technology Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Hayden Johnson, left, Madison Ingram, center, and Bridget O'Reilly, all 16, work on a hot air balloon project in their Women in STEM club during lunch at Bexley High School.