Jackson State University was the first Historically-Black College or University to establish a meteorology program. Like many science, technology, engineering, and mathematical fields, meteorology lacks demographic diversity. JSU’s program has been a beacon and conduit to greater inclusivity within the field of atmospheric sciences. JSU recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the program by hosting several days of meetings, reflections, and community engagement. I was invited to participate so made my way down Interstate 20 to Jackson, Mississippi last week. Here’s what you need to know about the program and its contributions at the half-century mark.
The Jackson State University Meteorology Program was established in 1975. It was the first HBCU to offer a bachelor’s degree in meteorology. At that time, most of the meteorology education was at large predominantly white state universities or private colleges in the north. The field of meteorology had very few African Americans in 1975. Candidly, it still doesn’t today either. The American Meteorological Society counts roughly 2% of its membership as Black or African American, according to membership surveys. JSU, through this pioneering program, has produced nearly one third of all African American meteorologists working in the field today. Candidly, without the JSU program, that AMS percentage would probably be much lower .
William “Bill” Parker is the Meteorologist-In-Charge at the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi and was one of the organizers of the celebration. The 1994 graduate told me, “ From its inception, and as the first HBCU to establish a meteorology program, JSU has remained a leader in preparing students for opportunities across the weather enterprise.” JSU alumni have played vital roles in NOAA, NASA, the National Weather Service, U.S. Air Force, local and national broadcast news, research laboratories, and universities around the world.
The JSU program was created through a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. Patricia Brown was the first graduate of the program and a trailblazer. Brown, who retired from federal service this year, reflected on headwinds that she faced as a student and as the program struggled to gain acceptance. She recounted a colleague asking, “If she felt that something was missing because she studied meteorology at Jackson State.” Her thoughts were spot on, “We used the same textbooks, and it was the same math.”
As the first African American to obtain a doctorate in meteorology at Florida State University and the second to become president of the American Meteorological Society, I resonate with aspects of Brown’s journey. Several of us share Brown’s story of being the only person of color in the room or navigating skeptical questions. However, not once did anyone question whether I missed out on something by attaining three meteorology degrees from FSU.
Even through such headwinds, microaggressions, and other uncertainties, the program has remained as some meteorology programs across the nation are being shuttered. Howard University and North Carolina A&T State University now offer meteorology or atmospheric sciences degrees at the undergraduate level, but for many years, JSU was the only HBCU to do so. Dr. Vernon Morris is a professor and associate dean at Arizona State University, and one of the founders of Howard University’s graduate program in Atmospheric Sciences. Morris added, “JSU’s meteorology program provided essential impetus for the formation of many programs at HBCUs that have grown over the years and contributed to the diversity of the field and it remains and incubator for principled leadership and scientific achievement.”
Alan Sealls is the a former chief meteorologist in Mobile, Alabama and is the current President-Elect of the AMS. He will be the third African American president of the society and the first to be elected to that position for AMS and the National Weather Association. Sealls was the keynote speaker at the celebration. He texted, “Over time I came to realize that so many of my meteorology colleagues who are African American were Jackson State graduates.” He went on to say, “Clearly, the JSU meteorology program had a large and positive impact for the profession, and for representation.”
Dr. Jamese Sims, another organizer of the event, is one of those graduates. Sims is a former NOAA scientist and currently serves as chief scientist and professor at JSU. She said, “The program’s legacy lives in every graduate, as we are leaders working in areas of research, forecasting, policy, and industry, proving that excellence thrives where opportunity and passion meet. Another graduate, Dr. Andrea Sealy added, ”As a product of this program, I would not be where I am today without the foundation that the JSU meteorology laid for my success.” Sealy zoomed into the event from the Caribbean Islands where she is a meteorologist at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology. Her final statement to me was, “Thee I Love, JSU!”
It was my honor to attend the 50th celebration. In fact, I would not have missed it even as shutdown travel constraints hampered plans of other attendees. I participated in panel with Dr. DaNa Carlis, the first African American director of a NOAA research laboratory. At the National Severe Storms Laboratory, Carlis oversees a major research entity advancing research and development on behalf of the nation. He reflected, “The program has been a pioneer in shaping our field, producing talented meteorologists—many of whom I’ve been honored to work alongside during my 23 years at NOAA.” Carlis predicted, “With continued support from university leadership and its dedicated alumni, the next 50 years promiste to be even more transformative.” He closed by saying, “Move over Sonic Boom of the South, JSU meteorology is making its own powerful mark.”
Carlis’ ending statement is a nod to the iconic marching band at JSU, but it is a reflection of so much more. The HBCU experience, for many, is about more than the degrees, equations, and laboratories. That’s something the person who asked Pat Brown that unfortunate question may not ever understand. The culture, marching bands, social experiences, stepshows, shared experiences, and struggles are as vital as the quasi-geostrophic theory or ideal gas law.
Pat Brown reflected on her career. She said, “Dr. Keith Johnson had been sent to Jackson State University from NOAA to administer and teach in the new Meteorology program in 1975. I worked for Dr. Johnson as a Student Assistant at the Mississippi Air Pollution Bureau during the 1978-79 school term, which was my junior year.” It was Johnson who connected her with Dr. Warren Washington at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, whom she worked with in 1980. Her NOAA career started a year later. NSF NCAR is one of the hallowed grounds for meteorological research. The current director, Dr. Everette Joseph, attended the celebration. Before attending this event, I had not understood the role of Warren Washington in the JSU program, but it is not surprising that he touched it. He has an iconic influence on virtually every African American meteorologist over the age of 40. To this day, I considered him a career-shaping mentor and friend.
I shared Brown’s story because during my time at Jackson State University, I heard countless reflections of the importance of relationships and networks. Current JSU professor Dr. Loren White co-authored a reflection piece about the JSU program at the 30th anniversary milestone. He and his co-authors wrote, “In 1975, the Mississippi State Board of Trustees of Higher Education authorized Jackson State College (as it was then known) to offer a program in meteorology leading to a bachelor of science degree. President John A. Peoples charged Dr. Charlie Smith, chair of the Department of General Science, to develop the Meteorology Program.” This past week Dr. Smith reflected on the important roles and relationships enabled by people like Keith Johnson, June Bacon-Bercey, Pieter J. Feteris, Lonzy J. Lewis, and Arthur C. Pike. One of White’s co-authors, R.Suseela Reddy, is the longest-serving faculty member currently active within the program. He joined the program in 1994.
I want to mention current students in the JSU program before closing this reflection. It was refreshing to see many of them engaged with alumni and guests. It was often unspoken, but it was clear to me they understood that many of the pioneers in the room paved a pathway for them and that they must pay it forward. One day a book will be written about the Jackson State University meteorology program, and the 50th anniversary is certainly one of many chapters.