Former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison to deliver keynote address at Rochester Institute of Technology Academic Convocation

Rochester, New York – The Rochester Institute of Technology has announced that trailblazing astronaut and physician Mae Jemison will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Academic Convocation on May 8. During the ceremony, the university will also award Jemison an Honorary Doctor of Science degree in recognition of her extraordinary career spanning space exploration, medicine, education, and technological innovation.

For the graduating class and the broader campus community, the event promises to be more than a traditional academic gathering. Jemison’s journey—from a determined young student with big ambitions to becoming the first woman of color to travel into space—has long been viewed as a powerful symbol of perseverance and possibility.

University leaders say her story reflects the kind of bold thinking and curiosity that institutions like RIT strive to cultivate.

“We are fortunate and honored to be able to welcome Dr. Jemison as this year’s Academic Convocation speaker,” said RIT President Bill Sanders. “Dr. Jemison is a trailblazer, from her groundbreaking experiences at NASA to her medical research and mission to enhance STEM education, and beyond. She will undoubtedly inspire our graduates as they move on to their next adventure, to grasp every opportunity that comes their way, and to continue to be difference-makers in our world.”

Jemison’s place in history was secured in 1992 when she launched into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during the STS-47 mission. Serving as a mission specialist, she joined six other astronauts on a journey that carried them into microgravity, a unique environment where objects appear nearly weightless.

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The mission, known as Spacelab J, focused heavily on scientific discovery. Over the course of the flight, astronauts carried out more than 45 experiments designed to explore how living organisms and physical processes behave in space. Many of these studies relied on the unusual conditions of orbit, allowing researchers to observe reactions that would be impossible to replicate on Earth.

Yet Jemison’s path to the stars began long before her time at NASA. Her academic career started at Stanford University, where she earned degrees in chemical engineering and African American studies. Later, she attended Cornell University, completing her medical degree and launching a career that combined science with a deep commitment to global health.

Before joining the astronaut corps, Jemison served in the Peace Corps as a medical officer in West Africa. In that role, she was responsible for the health of American volunteers, embassy personnel, and Peace Corps staff members stationed in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The experience broadened her understanding of public health challenges and reinforced her belief that science and medicine should serve communities worldwide.

After leaving NASA, Jemison did not step away from science. Instead, she expanded her focus into education, sustainability, and innovation. One of her most notable initiatives is The Earth We Share, an international science camp designed to encourage young people to explore global challenges through scientific thinking and collaboration.

She also spent time teaching as an environmental studies professor at Dartmouth College, where her work centered on building sustainability into new technologies—especially those that could benefit both industrialized nations and developing regions.

Beyond academia, Jemison founded the consulting firm Jemison Group Inc., which explores ways that space research and advanced technology can improve everyday life on Earth. She also created the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, an organization dedicated to expanding access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

Her forward-looking vision became even more ambitious in 2012 when she launched the 100 Year Starship initiative. The project aims to ensure that humanity develops the technological capabilities necessary for interstellar travel within the next century—a goal that blends scientific research with long-term strategic planning.

Jemison’s influence extends across multiple scientific communities. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves on its council. She also chairs the external council for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts, a program that supports bold and unconventional space research ideas.

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In the corporate world, she contributes to sustainability initiatives as a member of the board of directors at Kimberly-Clark, where she chairs the Sustainability Committee. Meanwhile, her academic work continues through roles at Texas A&M University, where she serves as a visiting scholar in the EnMed engineering medicine program, and at the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study.

Jemison’s cultural impact also reaches beyond science and academia. She made a guest appearance on the television series Star Trek The Next Generation, portraying Lt. Junior Grade Palmer. The appearance carried symbolic weight for many fans—Jemison had long cited the show as one of her inspirations growing up.

Her influence is even recognized in the world of toys and pop culture. Jemison appears as a miniature figure in the LEGO Ideas Women of NASA set alongside other pioneering women of space science, including Nancy Grace Roman, Margaret Hamilton, and Sally Ride.

Looking back on her historic journey into orbit, Jemison has described the experience with a sense of belonging that stretched far beyond Earth itself.

“Strange, but I always knew I’d be here. Looking down and all around me, seeing the Earth, the moon, and the stars, I just felt that I belonged right there, and in fact, any place in the entire universe.”

When she takes the stage at RIT’s Academic Convocation, Jemison will speak to a new generation of graduates preparing to enter a rapidly changing world. Her life story—shaped by curiosity, courage, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge—offers a reminder that the boundaries of discovery are often far wider than they appear.

Additional details about the ceremonies scheduled for May 8 and 9 can be found on the university’s commencement website. For many students preparing to graduate, the chance to hear from one of space exploration’s most influential figures will mark a memorable moment at the close of their academic journey.