Tiera Guinn Fletcher is an African American engineer who graduated from MIT in 2017 and works for Boeing. She is one of the designers and structural analysts building the Space Launch System for NASA which is set to send people to Mars.
Fletcher was born in the greater Atlanta area in Georgia. Her interest and attraction to math and science began at the age of six and was cultivated by her parents. Her mother Sheila, was an accountant and her father was a construction worker. Her parents encouraged her to calculate things and measure things in her daily life. These exercises – including coupon clipping, totaling up grocery receipts, and learning about the applications of architecture – challenged Fletcher and set her apart from other kids her age. At eleven years old, Fletcher zeroed in on her interest in Aerospace engineering while participating in an aerospace program put on by Lockheed Martin. Fletcher went on to study aerospace in college at MIT.
Fletcher lives in New Orleans, Louisiana where she works on the assembly of the Space Launch System. She was married in July 2018 to Myron Fletcher, another aerospace engineer who also works at Boeing. Both she and her husband share an interest in influencing young people to join the world of STEM along with increasing the diversity of STEM fields.
Fletcher attended Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia. During her senior year of high school, Fletcher received an internship at NASA in Langley, Virginia. She also landed a research internship at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2014. The internship involved assisting in the research of landing performance in aircraft. Through these internships her interest in the field grew and she solidified her choice in pursuing aerospace engineering as a major in college and an eventual career.
Fletcher attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and graduated with a 5.0 GPA and received her Bachelor’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering in June 2017. She participated in a mentorship program to help other students at MIT, this helped instil confidence in herself and her capabilities.
After her first year, Fletcher participated in undergraduate research studying design optimization of aircraft at MIT. Her second year, she again participated in undergraduate research, this time studying Network Analysis. During her junior and senior years of college, Fletcher participated in two different internships at Boeing. From June 2015 to June 2016 Fletcher was a Systems Engineering Intern at Boeing where she helped design, test, and collaborate with other professionals on Boeing products. The following year from June 2016 to June 2017 Fletcher was a Design engineer and Stress Analyst Intern at Boeing where she helped with the design process and analysis of the Space Launch System for NASA.
Fletcher was offered a job at Boeing as a Structural analysisEngineer. At Boeing, she is one of the lead engineers and designers working on the Space Launch System for NASA which aims to put humans on Mars. The Space Launch System is the fastest rocket ever created and the largest. The area that Fletcher works on is the exploratory upper stage of the spacecraft which helps the craft complete its ascent phase. She is part of the Engine Section Task Leading team responsible for this, of which she is the youngest member.
Fletcher received the 2017 Good Housekeeping‘s Awesome Woman Award which recognizes women who are impacting the world for the better by overcoming social constraints and influencing the world around them.
Also in 2017, Fletcher received the Albert G. Hill Prize at MIT which recognizes students in their junior or senior year who have excelled academically and impacted the environment at MIT in a way that improves campus climate for other minorities.
Nollywood star, Mercy Johnson Okojiewill be launching her new ‘kitchen talk show’ called Mercy’s Menu from July 2019 where she talks to fellow celebrities on their lifestyle, their opinion on life issues and their intimate secrets while cooking.
The 13-episode show features veteran Nollywood actress Liz Benson and other popular celebrities like AY, Chigul, Omawumi,Niniola, Ufuoma McDermott, Maraji, BusolaDakolo, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, Ill Bliss and Munachi, Lagos House Wife (Rayo) and of course, her beautiful family, Prince Odi Okojie, Purity, Henry and Angel.
Shot on location at Pedini Bosch Kitchen in 2018, Mercy roots out juicy information from her guests on family, work, scandal and some of the most challenging points of their lives.
The show promises to be exciting, funny and emotional.
See the photos below.
The show is produced by RealMJOTV and WildFlower Productions.
Nigerian Afro-soul singer and songwriter, Aramide Sarumoh, has been appointed into the Washington DC’s chapter of the Recording Academy Board of Governors.
The singer who has been an active voting member of the Recording Academy for several years and previously served on the committees of the Academy took to her Instagram page to announce this major achievement.
She said, “I am proud to have been elected as Board of Governor and look forward to supporting the cause of the Recording Academy. “The Recording Academy plays a vital role in supporting and advocating for artists, producers, songwriters, and other professionals working in the music industry”.
Aramide shot into limelight in 2006 when she contested at Nigeria’s music talent hunt show, Star Quest, where her team came third.
In 2015, she won the award for the best female vocal performance at the Headies following the release of her first single, `Iwo Nikan’.
Emelife Stella Chinelo Amagbor 100 years record breaking
educational feat went viral few weeks
ago and alot of Nigerians wanted to know more about the woman who had made the
motherland proud. The story was shared across social media and on some
international platforms.
The Anambra State born academia got a scholarship from of
the university of Mysore, India and graduated in March 2019 with a FGPA of
9.26, and was awarded 20 gold medals during her convocation, this feat made it
the first time in over 100 years where any student will be honoured that way. Little
did Stella know her story was going to make rounds in the media
The Intelligent young woman who also has a bachelor degree,
(BSc Applied Chemistry) ,was also awarded the best graduating student of Usmanu
Danfodiyo University Sokoto in 2013/2014 academic session, graduating with CGPA
of 4.86.
Stella is inspired by
her hunger for knowledge and a better
life for herself, she shares her inspiring story in this interview.
In her words; “My parents were not the richest but they did all they could at all times to give me and my siblings the best quality education”.
Growing up
I grew up in Sokoto state though born in Zaria, Kaduna
state. I am the first of the seven children of Sir and Lady Christoper Emelife.
My parents were not the richest but they did all they
could at all times to give me and my siblings the best quality education available.
I attended Federal Government College Sokoto from primary level to secondary
level and this was by no means the best school in Sokoto at the time. All
through my studies, I was outstanding. I always made the best grades which
earned me several awards and scholarship.
I went on to do my bachelor’s degree in applied chemistry at Usmanu Dan
fodiyo University Sokoto where I also graduated as the best graduating student
in 2012/2013 academic session. It was never rosy. I had difficulties and
challenges especially with gaining admisssion into university. I wanted to
study medicine but did not get that course for reasons I am yet to lay my hands
on but all I knew was that I had the results required. I spent three years
battling with JAMB UTME and POSTUTME until I eventually changed to chemistry.
So I would say, yes, my childhood or my background indeed prepared me for what
I do now.
Why Chemistry?
For my bachelor degree in Applied chemistry, I will tell you
that I only chose to apply for it at the time because, firstly chemistry was my
favourite science subject apart from Mathematics in secondary school, I would
say I had a good foundation in chemistry and then secondly, I needed to apply
for a course that had less traffic. By less traffic I mean, a course that did
not have too many applicants just like medicine which was what I wanted to
study. However, in the course of my studies, I fell in love with chemistry and
decided to proceed in this field for my postgraduate studies.
100 years record
breaking viral story
Yes, my story went
viral after the announcement of my awards in India. I got an Indian government
scholarship in 2016 to go for a master degree course in chemistry. I accepted
the offer and began my master’s degree programme at University of Mysore, the
course went on till July/August 2018. I returned back to Nigeria and this year
2019, I was invited to attend my convocation ceremony where I will be officially
awarded my MSc Chemistry degree and along with it, I was informed that I will
be receiving numerous awards as a result of my outstanding performance in the
university. The university is one of the oldest universities in India and
highly reputable. I was informed that in the over 100 years history of the
university, no one has ever made such grades and most of all a foreigner. I
made a percentage of 92.6%. Hence, the best graduating student of the
university of Mysore. I went down to India in March 2019, received these
numerous awards (25 awards that included 20 gold medals and 5 cash prizes) and
almost all media houses in India had the news in all languages including
English and eventually, Nigerian bloggers got to know and then some Nigerian
news houses.
Reception
Abroad which of course is India, every single person who has
come across the news is totally amazed and wonder how I was able to break such
record of such university as notable as University of Mysore. More so were
those present at the convocation ceremony. Even the dignitaries could not help
but express how amazed they are and how proud of me they are and have since
been offering to assist me in any way they can through recommendations in case
I decide to take up a PhD course in India. I granted countless number of
interviews both offline and online. In fact, my name has been everywhere in
India especially amongst the academicians and the foreign students association
in all parts of India are so proud of me and my achievement. Now, at home, yes
the reception has been good amongst people who got to know about it, especially
on social media. My husband, my entire family and friends, my church, my alma
mater have all been so amazed at such performance. The Chemical Society of
Nigeria have been so excited about the news. I have also been granting a number
of interviews here and there. I am praying that apart from everyone getting
excited and sending in congratulatory messages, that I will attract the
attention of the federal government to at least consider me for a well-paying
job here in Nigeria.
My Inspiration
I am inspired by my
hunger for knowledge and a better life for myself, my family and the society at
large and I believe that getting to the peak of my career in life will bring me
all the happiness I seek for since at that height, I can inspire others and be
make all the impacts I yearn for in the society.
Who inspires me? Firstly my parents inspire me greatly.
Their determination to give us the best they can pushes me to be more and also
be a great parent like they are to me and then also, I am inspired by every
woman that I come across who is doing all she can to break all the conventional
laws or rules that hold women back and strife hard to achieve her goals
irrespective of her gender or whatever. If you ask for who my role model is,
then it is Late Prof. Dora Akunyili of blessed memory. I adore her and hope to
do greater than she did by the help of God.
What next?
I need a good job in the academia as a lecturer in the
university or as a quality control analyst or research and development
personnel in any reputable chemical industry where I can put in all my
knowledge to use, develop myself and also earn a good living to take care of
myself, my family and those around me that need help. I am also looking forward
to getting a very good PhD scholarship to start up my research career as soon
as possible.
On the long run, I have plans to work with NGOs in the
education sector to be able to make my own mark in education in Nigeria.
Challenges
The greatest
challenge I faced while studying in India was the cultural shock I faced. It
was my first time leaving Nigeria and for the fact that it was a totally
different continent made it so difficult for me at the very beginning. The
food, the way of life, the language, the accent and intonations, the religion.
No one understood me when I spoke because they say they do
not understand my accent. However, time changed everything. I became very used
to everything that I ate virtually every food, began to speak with the Indian
accent and I could understand a few of the native language hence I was able to
at least communicate with the bus drivers et al. Another challenge I faced was
the overwhelming academic activities and being the only foreigner in my class.
I stayed in school morning till evening from Monday to Saturday, stood for at
least 4 hours in the laboratory and had loads of assignments to submit within
short notice and practical records to submit also. It was so intense and scary
but eventually, by the Grace of God, I got used to it and made use of all
facilities at my disposal, used my time judiciously and became friends with
virtually all my classmates.
Giving up
In my first year if I had the financial capacity, I would
have ran back to Nigeria because I was getting too overwhelmed with the work
load. It was so intense and I thought, I could not just do this. I was afraid I
may not survive it. Many times I will cry while in the class receiving
lectures, other times in the lab I will be so lost and confused. I could no
longer concentrate. However, I cried to my family most especially my husband who is a huge
support system, and they all encouraged me with their kind words and prayers
and eventually, I got used to everything and even did not want to go back to
Nigeria, when it was time to. Hahahaha!!!
My Support System
I am happily married to Mr. John Oshiobode Amagbor who has
been of tremendous support to me. We live in Warri, Delta state. Also, I am
looking forward to collaborations with NGOs or bodies that propagate education
in public schools especially at the basic and secondary level. I will
appreciate getting connections to such agencies and organizations, I can do a
volunteer work with them even when I get a paying job.
Being a woman of
rubies
I believe I am a Woman of Rubies because I am very focused
and zealous. I do not let my gender come in my way of achieving the greatest
heights. I do not think because I am a woman in the midst of men, so I am a
second class ‘citizen’. I always believe I am even better and at advantage
because I am a woman. I hold my head high and raise my shadows while defending
myself or any right course because I am a human first then a woman. I am
fearless when discussing what I know, yet very humble to learn anything new
from anyone irrespective of gender or race. I am an inspiration to my own
family, my own society and soon the world. I represent womanhood everywhere I
go to. Yes, I am that Woman of Rubies.
To women who want to
study Chemistry
Any woman can be anything right she wants to be. There is no
gain going about wearing the cap “I am a woman’ about like Mo Abudu will
say. You are a human first then woman. Therefore, there is no limit to what you
can achieve just like everyother man.
Chemistry is not easy, however it is by no means the most
interesting physical science course and is highly interdisciplinary. Go for it,
as far as you are serious minded.
Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson provided pivotal contributions to space flight research from the 1940s through to the 1960s, when the United States first sent men to orbit and then walk on the Moon.
Despite their achievements, all three had to confront the racial segregation of the era.
They were among dozens of African-Americans, both male and female, who worked as mathematicians and physicists for the US space program, even as they were forced to use separate bathrooms from whites, and were barred from the same restaurants and schools frequented by whites.
The trio’s work was largely forgotten until they were profiled in the book “Hidden Figures” decades later by author Margot Lee Shetterly, later adapted into the 2016 blockbuster of the same name.
Shetterly said the decision to ordain Hidden Figures Way honored “the contributions of unseen individuals who were there at the beginning of the story, and whose persistence and courage have delivered us to where we are today.”
“These female mathematicians were doing the heavy lifting in aeronautical research and many, many other fields long before those chunks of electronic circuitry became the defining feature of our life and work,” she said at a Wednesday ceremony outside NASA.
In 2015, Former US President Barack Obama gave Johnson, who is now 100, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Jackson and Vaughan died in 2005 and 2008 respectively.
NASA will next month celebrate the 50th anniversary of the successful Apollo 11 mission and humanity’s first Moon landing.
The agency last month announced its plan to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024 through its “Artemis” program — named for the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology.
Following Nigeria’s 3-0 loss to Norway in their first game, the coach, Thomas Dennerby, replaced Tochukwu Oluehi with Nnadozie for the second game. According to OptaJoe, the goalkeeper was 18 years and 186 days on the day Nigeria of the match.
Thankfully, the young goalkeeper delivered, making a number of crucial saves during the game. The only effort that would’ve ruined her record came when South Korea’s Lee Guemmin scored a goal, but it was instantly flagged an offside.
Given this performance, she’s sure to be part of the squad when Nigeria takes on France on Monday.
Presently, women make up 18 to 20 percent of the cruise ship workforce, with the first woman cruise ship captain not being appointed until 2007. Breaking the glass ceiling in this industry is Belinda Bennett, who is the World’s First Black woman cruise ship captain.
According to Forbes, Bennett has worked for the cruise line Windstar Cruises for 14 years. She came to the cruise ship line in 2005 and worked her way up from second officer, to chief officer to now captain, which is a position she was appointed to in 2016. Currently, she is captain of the MSY Wind Star and is in charge of sailing the ship through the Caribbean in the winter and Europe in the summer.
Growing up on a small island called St. Helena, which is between South America and South Africa, Bennett says she’s always had a love for the ocean. She started her career in the cruise ship industry at just 17 years old, working on the island’s local ship called RMS St. Helena. From there, she went on to train as a cadet and admits that her journey to moving up the ranks has been met with a lot of push back and hard work as a result of her gender and race.
“Unfortunately, I had a rough start,” she says. “When I was training as a cadet, I sailed with the chief officers who made me work harder than the other guys. During your cadetship you’re starting out as a sailor, so you do every job that they do. I had a chief officer, unfortunately, who made me work later than the sailors, so they would knock off for the day, and I would be left outside continuing to work until it got dark.”
After working on a private yacht of Monaco for two years, Bennett went back to school to get her masters and then tried to work her way into the leadership ranks of the yachting industry. But, she was again met with barriers when she says an agent in Antibes sat her down and told her that finding a job in yachting would be hard because she is more educated than most of the captains, she’s a woman and she’s Black.
Using the criticism to find motivation for a different route, Bennett left the yacht industry and joined the cruise ship industry in 2005 when she landed a job with Windstar Cruises.
Most recently, Bennett’s work in the industry has led her to be awarded with the prestigious Merchant Navy Medal award for Meritorious Service in the U.K. While she says most of the career goals that she initially set for herself have been accomplished, she admits that getting to where she is today has not been an easy feat.
“Being a woman, you have to work extra hard to prove yourself – even more than a man,” she explains. “Some men might not like that, but that’s the way it is. I’m driven. I wanted to be captain, and so, I am.”
The Kenyan police command has arrested a certain Rashid Kassim, a member of the Kenyan Parliament representing Wajir East for allegedly assaulting Wajir County Woman Representative, Fatuma Gedi.
According to reports, Fatuma Gedi, Wajir Woman Representative is said to have been beaten up on Thursday morning June by Rashid Amin in the parliament building. Gedi reportedly got into a heated discussion which led to the assault from the MP.
Reports have it that the MP demanded to know why Gedi, also a member of the budget committee, did not allocate any money to his Wajir East constituency.
Speaking on the incident, Gedi said;
“He called me stupid and nonsense and then he beat me. I was shocked, I could not believe it. He came again and hit me. I told him that Wajir County was only allocated Ksh100 million and we had to allocate money to only areas of priority to the region like water and roads but he told me that was nonsense,” she highlighted.
Gedi who was with the Home Bay Woman Representative when the assault occurred, had her story collaborated by the Home Bay Woman Representative
“They started to converse in Somali so I just stood by to wait for Gedi. A few minutes into the conversation I just saw him hitting Gedi on the cheek, she was crying and bleeding. I didn’t know what could lead to that. I was surprised that a colleague can assault a female member,” Wanga narrated.
Gedi was then taken to the Karen Hospital for treatment.
While celebrating her 28th birthday, actress Steph Isuma recounts how she was raped in the most humiliating way at 14, attempted suicide a few times, survived a house fire in 2017 and was kidnap in 2018.
So sometime Last month I opened up about my struggle with depression and managing it for years! Struggling with ptsd from some of the worst experiences of my life! From getting raped in the most humiliating way at Age 14 To attempting suicide a few times To Losing my best friend to Domestic violence. To Surviving A house Fire in 2017. A Kidnap in 2018 wheeeew! .
Living through all of the trauma, the nightmares,the panic attacks has been a struggle!
You crave for peace but even sleep doesn’t afford that. It wrecks your dreams and turns your days into a living nightmare. It messes your head up, destroys your personality, your relationship with your family and friends, your work, your social life, it affects them all.
I decided to share some part of my story just to motivate some people here because I want people to know that they’re not alone
Truth is some of The people who appear strongest.. some of the people u look up to who you envy are fighting the toughest battles too. I can come out wearing the brightest smile but deep down be really sad. , But in all…. I’ve come to understand that living is an act of bravery So , Today….I Celebrate me for never giving up! For holding me up regardless. Now I know better….I love my life and how it is turning out. I am grateful for it. If I could shine a spotlight on it for everyone who’s ever wanted to die, I would, because it’s beautiful and amazing and I would do anything in the world to protect it. And I want anyone who might be suicidal to know how much better life can be. Yes Emotional pain is real, and no matter how much it feels like it can’t end, it can. It can get better. It does get better. Life gets better. And you get better with it.
ThankGod we don’t look like what we’ve been through!
Late last week, Sudanese beauty influencer Shahd Khidir (@hadyouatsalaam) took to her Instagram feed to talk about the massacre currently plaguing her home country. Shahd, who moved from Omdurman, Sudan, to the United States with her family when she was younger to flee civil political unrest and create a better life, wrote in her Instagram post: “It’s really hard being an influencer and sharing information that is ‘off brand’ and not worthy of the ‘feed’ but I cannot hold this in anymore. I am at my office crying because I have so many emotions in me and I feel horrible. There’s a massacre happening in my country Sudan’s and a media blackout and internet censorship for four consecutive days.”
Now based in New York, the 26-year-old, who still has family in Sudan, also pointed out the lack of media coverage the conflict has received saying, “There is no objective media sharing what’s going on except for @aljazeeraenglish which had their offices shot down.” According to The New York Times, in April the country’s former president Omar al-Bashir, known for being a dictator during his nearly 30 years in office, was “toppled by his [military] generals” following months of peaceful protests that called for a democratic nation. Since then, the African country (the continent’s third largest) has experienced at least 100 killings, with bodies ending up in Nile River (as of June 4), over 70 reported rape case, robberies, and more, all at the hands of the military forces, with Internet and cellular networks being shut down, as well.
After sharing about the massacre, Shahd got personal in her post, explaining, “My friend @mattar77 was MURDERED by the Rapid Support Forces. My best friend was in hiding on June 2 and that’s the last time I spoke to him. He was missing for 4 days and when I got in touch with him he said: ‘I was caught, beaten and abused and humiliated and arrested and had my phone confiscated from me. I am injured currently.’ And all I could do this post this.”
In an interview with Teen Vogue, Shahd says she felt an “impulse” to speak up about the massacre, expressing,
“I couldn’t handle not being in touch with my friends and family members especially those who are out protesting. After I lost contact with my friend it drove me insane and then when I did hear back it was bad news.” Shahd was devastated at work and didn’t have any friends or family around to support her. “I couldn’t keep it all in my head or wait until the end of the day to share.”
In the original Instagram post, Shahd included a note to the brands she is working with, saying, “I am sorry to all companies I am running campaigns with but my editorial calendar is currently on pause. I am willing to refund all and everything right away. Please, just send me an email.”
Shahd tells Teen Vogue that many of the companies have not responded to her, while others have been “so understanding and cooperative,” and she appreciates their support immensely.
Beyond this, Shahd also made a point to share a message with her Instagram community, offering, “To my followers/supporters who this is too much for I am also sorry but my regularly scheduled content/reviews is also on pause. If this offends you, I am sorry. But I need to speak out and share this in a time like this.”
Shahd later explained that it was hard and “scary” for her to share the post because it made her feel “vulnerable and weak”. “As a micro-influencer in the beauty community this photo of me without makeup and with blemishes and zits and tears down my face, it was really crazy,” she revealed. “I felt like being political, which is ironic because I am a political scientist by degree, would be the death of my career.” Her hesitation to be honest online shows just how much pressure there is for influencers to keep up appearances so their followers and brand partners are happy.
Ultimately, Shahd did not expect her post to go viral (it currently has more than 400,000 likes). In fact ,she says, “I expected people to unfollow me and for my influencing career to end right there.” The influencer thought that opening up about the situation would risk her career but that she felt she needed to say something. “It’s important for anyone that has a voice to speak up…If we don’t speak up about terrible injustices, who will?”
At the end of the original posting, Shahd went one step further to tell her followers, “If you want to support me please share this information as widely as possible and don’t be silent. Be an ally because we need your help. And tune into my stories for more information. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SILENT.”
So far, her 62,000 followers have responded positively. “They have stood by me and really touched my heart. I made an active effort to respond back to every single comment, and direct message but I got blocked from responding,” she shares over email. Accordingly, Shahd wishes she could hug every single person who has shared words of support.
When asked what more people can do to support those impacted by the massacre, Shahd says, “I encourage people to keep sharing information about the Sudan Revolution until there’s a civilian led democratic government. It’s important to spread awareness. It’s important to tell everyone what’s going on. Considering the fact that the Internet is completely blacked out, the Sudanese people have no connection with the outside world. So we have to connect them and spread information about their struggles. Also, please donate to funeral funds, and to medical supplies.” Shahd has continued to share about the conflict on her Instagram stories.
Shahd is not the only one speaking up about the massacre on social media. Yesterday, Rihanna also posted about the conflict on her Instagram stories.
