Jeanette Scissum
Jeanette Scissum | |
---|---|
Born | Guntersville, Alabama, U.S. | October 6, 1939
Alma mater | Alabama A&M University |
Jeanette Alexandra Scissum (born October 6, 1939)
Early life and education
Scissum was born in
Career
Scissum started teaching at
Scissum's accomplishments have earned her recognition by Mathematically Gifted & Black as a Black History Month 2018 Honoree.[7]
Diversity
Scissum was passionate about inclusion and volunteered to be an equal employment opportunity officer. Her contributions in this role were recognised by an award from NASA Administrator James Fletcher, but she did note that fighting for others sometimes put her own career in jeopardy. She was warned by a top female supervisor that management were unhappy with the number of complaints that she was handling.[4] In 1975, Scissum wrote an article for the National Technical Association, "Equal Employment Opportunity and the Supervisor – A Counselor's View", which argued that many discrimination complaints could be avoided "through adequate and meaningful communication."[2] She noted that her progression and the progression of her black colleagues was limited at NASA and expressed frustration and anger at this. "The problem (blacks) had was moving into management and being over people," Scissum said. "I guess (NASA) was afraid people would fight against it. I guess. It's hard to understand. It's always been hard for me to understand – the motivation for all this discrimination, because most of it seems unnecessary. It doesn't even have a reason."[4]
References
- ^ DeButy, Lucy Berry (February 26, 2021). "Huntsville trailblazer Jeanette Scissum paved way for future generations". Huntsville City Blog. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c Mohon, Lee (February 8, 2017). "Jeanette A. Scissum, Scientist and Mathematician at NASA Marshall". NASA. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ a b "Grew up during segregation and made it to NASA". The Advertiser-Gleam. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Black, female, and 'essential' to America's space program". AL.com. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ Bryan, William (October 3, 2017). "Where the Past Meets the Present: Marshall Figures Recognized". NASA. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ Scissum, Jeanette (March 1967). "Survey of prediction techniques for solar cycle activity". NASA Technical Reports.
- ^ a b "Jeanette Scissum – Mathematically Gifted & Black". Mathematically Gifted & Black. Retrieved February 22, 2018.