Throughout Dallas Salas’ life, he has been faced with opposition, including health scares and homelessness. However, despite the trials and tribulations, the 18-year-old has crossed off a major accomplishment.

Jamaican-born scientist Monique Mendes is the first Black woman to receive a doctorate in neuroscience at the University of Rochester. According to Democrat & Chronicle , the 27-year-old defended her thesis this past summer and began her post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University in September, where she conducts research using novel imaging techniques to better understand how learning and memory are impacted by specific cells called glia. I virtually defended my PhD thesis! I made history today as the 1st Black woman to graduate with a Neuroscience PhD at my institution. Thank you Ania, Thank you mentors, Thank you DSPAN, Thank you @URNeuroscience , and Thank you to my family. #BlackInNeuro @BlackInNeuro pic.twitter.com/7dTCf33Rh2 — Monique Mendes, PhD 🇯🇲 🇺🇸 (@monique_ja44) July 31, 2020 “I feel empowered, I feel excited,” said Mendes. “I’m just happy that I was able to get a Ph.D. and to show other Black women that it is possible, and they can succeed.” In sixth grade, Mendes’...

These siblings are a triple threat! WSFA-12 reports Jean, Jeanet and Jeanice Stephenson have earned a nursing degree from South University in Montgomery, AL. What’s more, their mother, who had previously worked as a nurse, was the motivator for their educational journey and milestone.

As CES 2021 draws to a close — during what is, undoubtedly, a most interesting time for the long-standing tech trade show — companies are wrapping up their presentations of the most innovative tech that they hope will make a difference in this year and beyond. While “big tech,” as an industry, has disproportionately favored well-monied white men, Black-owned companies are also starting to get their due. According to Deutsche Bank Research , the COVID-19 pandemic leveled the proverbial playing field between “big tech” and Black and Latinx developers. However, this research also showed that 76 percent of Black workers, and 62 percent of Hispanic workers, could get shut out or be under-prepared for 86 percent of jobs in the U.S. by 2045 — and but for the “COVID reckoning,” technology could leave Black people in what the report called “an unemployment abyss.” That’s why it’s all the more important to highlight Black-owned tech companies who are making waves at such trade shows as CES...

TERC , a math and science education organization, announced Dr. Stephen D. Alkins, Jr. as its new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer on Wednesday. In this role, Dr. Alkins will help the Cambridge-based program attract diverse talent and develop training and initiatives to foster an inclusive workplace. Dr. Alkins will also manage the Scholars Program to help nurture the next generation of STEM education innovators. “Stephen stood out as a talented, caring and committed professional, a scientist himself with a passion for education,” said TERC president Laurie Brennan in a news release . “Stephen’s ability to think strategically and roll up his sleeves to get the job done convinced me that he is not only the right person for this position but will also be a key leader at TERC.” Dr. Alkins got his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Brandeis University, where he also earned his master’s degree in the subject and oversaw diversity recruitment initiatives for STEM graduate programs. The...