Degree(s): Math

Undergraduate Institution: Wilberforce University (HBCU)

Photo Credit: NASA

Mrs. Dorothy Vaughan was the first Black supervisor (leading the all-Black, segregated West Area Computing Unit) at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the predecessor to NASA. When NACA transitioned to NASA, segregation was prohibited, and Mrs. Vaughn became a leading expert in the FORTRAN programming language.

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Fun Fact: Mrs. Vaughan’s story (along with Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson) was featured in the 2016 film, “Hidden Figures.” She was portrayed by Octavia Spencer.

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