100 years after the first Black woman graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Miona Short etched her name in history as the university’s first Black female astrophysics graduate.
Childhood Dreams of the Stars
Short’s passion for astronomy was sparked early by a childhood cheese commercial showing a cow jumping over the moon. At just 2 years old, she declared her ambition to become an astronaut.
Her dreams became reality in 2018 when she earned her astrophysics degree – a crowning achievement in her lifelong love for science.
Making History After a Century
Short graduated exactly a century after the first Black woman at UW-Madison. This powerful centennial milestone leaves her humbled to expand representation in the field.
Having researched the university’s first Black students, the precise 100-year gap between their accomplishments moved Short. She sees her own triumph as a reflection of persisting racial barriers.
Inspiring Future Generations
Well aware of her position as a role model, Short feels “fortunate” her dreams were fulfilled where others’ weren’t.
By succeeding in a physics field where only 2-3% are Black Americans, she hopes her story can now inspire youth to pursue their passions – especially in underrepresented STEM areas.
As she turns from student to entrepreneur, launching a haircare startup for women of color, Miona Short continues fearlessly reaching for the stars and taking others with her.
