In addition to being a successful actress, Nichelle Nichols worked closely with NASA during her lifetime to recruit more women and diverse scientists to their organization!
Background:
Nichelle Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois in 1932. However, she disliked her name, and she later changed it to Nichelle, meaning “victorious maiden.”
Nichols began her professional career as a singer and dancer in Chicago before landing her famous role as Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek. She was one of the first Black women to be featured in a major television show, especially in such a prominent supporting role.
legacy:
After Star Trek was canceled, Nichols began her work volunteering with NASA to recruit women and minority workers. She recruited many notable people, including Dr. Sally Ride, the first female American astronaut, Col. Guion Bluford, the first African-American astronaut, and Drs. Judith Resnik and Ronald McNair, who worked in the Space Shuttle Program before their untimely deaths in the Challenger accident. Nichelle Nichols passed away of heart failure on July 30, 2022, at 89 years old, but her legacy and impact at NASA and in the field of STEM remain still today.
““Science is not a boy’s game, it’s not a girl’s game. It’s everyone’s game. It’s about where we are and where we’re going.””
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