Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, to speak in Norfolk

Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to go to space, will speak at Old Dominion University’s third annual Women’s Initiative Network Speaker Series on Tuesday.

Jemison became the first woman of color to travel to space in 1992 aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. The trailblazing astronaut was NASA’s first science mission specialist, studying material science, life science and human adaptation to weightlessness.

Now she leads 100 Year Starship, a nonprofit supporting efforts to allow human travel outside of our solar system. Jemison is also an inductee to the National Women’s Hall of Face and International Space Hall of Fame.

ODU’s Women’s Initiative Network is in its 10th year of connecting women students with local and regional business mentors to support academic, personal and professional success.

Jemison will speak about breaking down barriers, space exploration and STEM at Hilton Norfolk The Main. The event starts at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $150 for general admission and $75 for active-duty military, and veterans. More information can be found on the Women’s Initiative Network website.

Kelsey Kendall, kelsey.kendall@virginiamedia.com