The word significant is defined as: sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy, having a particular meaning, indicative of something, of, relating to, or having significance. These are words that truly depict Shirley A. Jackson; a famous American Physicists.
Shirley A. Jackson was born on August 5th, 1946 in Washington D.C., she is very much alive; at a vibrant age of 68. She gained her interest in science and math when her father introduced her to what he also loved. She really enjoyed her education. She graduated with the highest in grade in math and science earning herself the honorable title of valedictorian. Jackson began college classes at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1964. She is not only significant because she is a great American Physicists but she was one of twenty African American students to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. To add to her significance she was also the only one studying physics. As a…show more content… Yes, she was so great that she was chosen to serve as chairmen of the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Being the first woman along with being African American to fulfill this position was nothing to Shirley but she was most proud because she was appointed by President Bill Clinton. Jackson was the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, being number one was the norm for Jackson because again she was the first woman and the first African American to also hold the position of President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She held this position from 1997 to 1999. She was a part of an association that included Nuclear Regulatory Officials from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As the first INRA chairman, Dr. Jackson guided its development as a high-level meeting to examine the issues, and to offer help to other nations, on matters of Nuclear