Dorothy Vaughan

Early Life

Dorothy Vaughan was born on September 20, 1910, in Kansas City, Missouri. She loved learning from a young age and was especially good at math.

Her family believed education was very important, so Dorothy worked hard in school. She later attended Wilberforce University, where she studied mathematics and graduated with honors.

Becoming a Math Star

After college, Dorothy worked as a teacher, sharing her love of math with students. During World War II, the United States needed more people who were good at math to help with airplanes and science.

Dorothy joined a group called the "human computers" at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA. These computers were people who used math to solve important problems.

Working at NASA

At NACA, Dorothy showed great skill and kindness. She became the first African American woman to be a supervisor there, leading a team of mathematicians.

She helped her coworkers learn new skills and always encouraged teamwork. Dorothy was especially excited about new electronic computers and learned how to program them.

Learning New Technology

When computers began replacing human calculators, Dorothy taught herself a computer language called FORTRAN. She then taught others so they would not lose their jobs.

Her willingness to learn and help others made her a strong leader. Thanks to her work, NASA was ready for the Space Age.

Legacy and Inspiration

Dorothy Vaughan retired from NASA in 1971, but her work continued to inspire people. She showed that learning never stops and that helping others succeed is just as important as personal success.

Today, Dorothy is remembered as a pioneer who opened doors for future scientists and engineers. Her story reminds kids that curiosity, kindness, and hard work can change the world.