She graduated from Stanford University with a PhD in physics.
She was the only person to be on the committees for both the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters.
She wrote 6 children's science books with her partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy.
She is now believed to be the first LGBT person ever to have gone into space.
She and her partner Tam created the Sally Ride Science organization, which is designed to encourage all students, but especially girls and minorities, to get involved in STEM education.
She created the Sally Ride Science Academy which is a professional development program for educators.
She was a professor of physics at University California, San Diego
She remains the youngest American astronaut to enter space, at age 32.
With all of her accolades and all of her achievements, she was still stereotyped as a woman and asked such sexist and sometimes even misogynistic questions at press conferences like, how space travel would effect her reproductive organs, or if she wept when things went wrong, or if she had to wear make-up and bras in space.
When asked about the lack of girls in science or technology, Sally was always adamant that it was not on account of lack of ability or interest, but it was the product of subtle sexism and cultural pressures that discouraged girls entering those fields. She went even further arguing that we do not need to "convert" girls to science, but we need to offer both boys and girls equal opportunity to experience and enjoy science.
She was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and died July 23rd 2012
Today would have been her 64th birthday.
I wanted to say, thank you, Sally, for being an advocate for girls and women around the world, and for being such a strong supporter and believer in education for the betterment of all.
For Further Reading:
Sally Ride Science
Sally Ride Science Academy
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