MEET DR. APRILLE JOY ERICSSON
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Aprille Joy Ericsson, the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate in mechanical engineering, aerospace option, at Howard University, works in the Guidance, Navigation and Control, Design Analysis section at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
A committed teacher, tutor, science fair judge, lecturer, professor, career advisor, mentor, and youth program developer, she plans to use her extensive education to teach aerospace engineering at one of the HBCU’s, ideally at Howard. The manned space flight program is her future in any case, as she has applied for the astronaut program.
IN HER OWN WORDS*Q: Have you always planned on having the profession that you have now?
Aprille Joy Ericsson, the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate in mechanical engineering, aerospace option, at Howard University, works in the Guidance, Navigation and Control, Design Analysis section at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.A committed teacher, tutor, science fair judge, lecturer, professor, career advisor, mentor, and youth program developer, she plans to use her extensive education to teach aerospace engineering at one of the HBCU’s, ideally at Howard. The manned space flight program is her future in any case, as she has applied for the astronaut program.
ERICSSON ON WOMEN AND MINORITIES AND THE SCIENCES We must reach out to the biggest population of math and science underachievers - girls. It's not that they're incapable. It's just that they have been unwittingly discouraged from succeeding in these fields. Without the prerequisite math and science classes, it is impossible for women to pursue over 30% of college majors. Frances Rosamond of National University has shown that, on average, starting salaries across all professions increase $2000 for every math course taken after the ninth grade. Women aren't the only ones being cheated; our whole society is! By the year 2000, 60% of the jobs will require technical skills. The United States cannot afford to lose more than half of its talent and the fresh perspective that women and minorities could bring to such critical fields. Remember without information, you are uninformed; therefore uneducated. And for some, ignorance is returning us to the days of slavery or women's suffrage. This world is constantly changing and to stay abreast one cannot be stagnant. READ, READ, READ! LEARN, LEARN, LEARN!  |
A: I didn’t know that I would choose to be an engineer. I became interested in first grade when I got the chance to see the U.S. go to the moon. But throughout the years I thought I might be an artist, a track star, a karate expert, a lawyer, etc. It wasn’t until h.s. that I realized how the pieces fit together. I just loved to figure out how things work and move and I loved putting things together. I should not forget how well I did in Math and Science. The real selling point was a summer program for hs juniors at MIT. The MIT program took us to an Air Force Base and I flew in a pilot simulator.
Q: What kind of classes did you have to take to become an engineer?
A: Lots of mathematics: algebra I & II, geometry, precalculus, trigonometry, analytical geometry, calculus I & II, ordinary differential equations, linear algebra. Lots of science: physics, chemistry, Earth science, material science. Then there are other physics type classes: Dynamics—how things move, Statics—how things bend, break, Vibrations—how things vibrate or oscillate, and to prevent their movement or control their movement.
Q: As a youth coordinator, how can I inspire young African American students to become interested in Science and possibly pursue a career in science?
A: I guess you could start off by having local African American who are engineers or scientists come speak to them. Kids today usually like to hear that we are paid good salaries. Where are you located? Check your closest NASA facility and request a speaker for your program. There are a couple of posters that depict African Americans and describe their jobs in Technical fields.
Q: From your bio I see that you were involved in high school extra-curricular activities. How did these activites help you with your future goals?
Would you advise students to get involved in extra-curricular activities?
A: I think it is important to be well rounded as a child and as an adult. I find doing other things besides my job at NASA keeps me stress free. My work requires a lot of constant thought/analysis and this can be stressful. That’s why I love sports and reading so much. It is also great when it comes time to fill out those college applications. You are more likely to succeed when you are well rounded. Other activities help a person grow and mature in other ways as well. Consider sports, you learn to be a team player. This is an important part of working at a place like NASA. We work in large groups to pull off a mission and everyone has to work together.
Q: I am a 15-year-old student. I began to be interested in science last year. I want to be a scientist. Do you think it’s still possible for me? I lost lots of time already.
A: You are only 15 years old. You have plenty of time. You can be anything you want because you have your whole life ahead of you. I didn’t decide I wanted to be an engineer until my senior year of h.s. and then I had to cram Physics, Chemistry and all of my Pre-Calculus into one year. But I did it. And so can you!
*Excerpts from online chat hosted by NASA QUEST
Q: What kind of classes did you have to take to become an engineer?
A: Lots of mathematics: algebra I & II, geometry, precalculus, trigonometry, analytical geometry, calculus I & II, ordinary differential equations, linear algebra. Lots of science: physics, chemistry, Earth science, material science. Then there are other physics type classes: Dynamics—how things move, Statics—how things bend, break, Vibrations—how things vibrate or oscillate, and to prevent their movement or control their movement.
Q: As a youth coordinator, how can I inspire young African American students to become interested in Science and possibly pursue a career in science?
A: I guess you could start off by having local African American who are engineers or scientists come speak to them. Kids today usually like to hear that we are paid good salaries. Where are you located? Check your closest NASA facility and request a speaker for your program. There are a couple of posters that depict African Americans and describe their jobs in Technical fields.
Q: From your bio I see that you were involved in high school extra-curricular activities. How did these activites help you with your future goals?
Would you advise students to get involved in extra-curricular activities?
A: I think it is important to be well rounded as a child and as an adult. I find doing other things besides my job at NASA keeps me stress free. My work requires a lot of constant thought/analysis and this can be stressful. That’s why I love sports and reading so much. It is also great when it comes time to fill out those college applications. You are more likely to succeed when you are well rounded. Other activities help a person grow and mature in other ways as well. Consider sports, you learn to be a team player. This is an important part of working at a place like NASA. We work in large groups to pull off a mission and everyone has to work together.
Q: I am a 15-year-old student. I began to be interested in science last year. I want to be a scientist. Do you think it’s still possible for me? I lost lots of time already.
A: You are only 15 years old. You have plenty of time. You can be anything you want because you have your whole life ahead of you. I didn’t decide I wanted to be an engineer until my senior year of h.s. and then I had to cram Physics, Chemistry and all of my Pre-Calculus into one year. But I did it. And so can you!
*Excerpts from online chat hosted by NASA QUEST