Race

feature: “at 23, his ph.d. is jalaal hayes’ latest achievement”

January 18, 2016

At 22, Jalaal Hayes joined the 178 of black Americans who have earned a physical science doctorate in the United States. At that time, Hayes also became the youngest student at Delaware State University to earn a Ph.D. “For his age and given the percentage of those who earn a Ph.D. in the STEM field who are black or African American, it’s quite an accomplishment,” said Rachel Upton, of the American Institutes for Research in Washington, to Philly.com.

Now, at 23, Hayes is teaching anatomy and physiology to the students of Universal Audenried Charter High School. His post-doc. mission? To encourage young minorities to pursue STEM education and careers. “I want to make STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] easy” and accessible, Hayes said to Philly.com.

Hayes graduated from high school at age 15 and college (with two degrees) at 18.

Read the full article here.

By Erin White, AFROPUNK contributor

Photo credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez (via Philly.com)

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