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NASA Langley Interns Share What Black History Month Means to Them

NASA Langley intern Joshua White has not let having epilepsy stop him from pursuing his dreams.
NASA Langley intern Joshua White has not let having epilepsy stop him from pursuing his dreams.
Credit: NASA

Barri’ Ragland-English, like thousands of other people, has been inspired by Mary Jackson, a NASA “Hidden Figure” whose accomplishments are now visible for all to see. She used Jackson’s example to blaze her own trail of diversity via the NASA Internships and Fellowships (NIFS) Program.

“In the field of STEM and particularly my field of interest, technology, the African American community overall and especially women are very underrepresented and acknowledged,” she said.

Ragland-English, a Hampton University senior majoring in business management, touts the internship program in advancing the cause of adding diversity into NASA’s ranks, helping the agency foster new ideas and experiences that allow people to learn from each other.

NASA has long advocated for cultivating opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) for young and diverse people. NASA internships and fellowships leverage the agency’s unique missions and programs to enhance and increase the capability, diversity and size of the nation’s future STEM workforce.

“As the world continues to evolve at a rapid pace, NASA must continue to recruit and hire diverse employees to bring creativity and different perspectives and ideas to help better solve problems to achieve the agency’s mission and goals,” Ragland-English said.

Those thoughts are echoed by NASA Internships Program Coordinator Jessica Gangitano, who is based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

“Progress cannot be made without the insight of multiple perspectives that only diversity can bring,” she said. “Our interns are brilliant and continue to push our missions forward. The diverse backgrounds our interns bring shows me just how many paths to NASA there are.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on on-site work, Ragland-English interns remotely for Langley’s Science branch. Joshua White, a fellow Langley intern, is also in the same virtual learning boat in Langley’s Director’s Office.

White, a North Carolina A&T University senior majoring in physics, has not let having epilepsy stop him from following in the footsteps of his NASA inspiration Ronald McNair, who was among the seven astronauts who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986.

Barri’ Ragland-English, who is an intern at NASA's Langley Research Center, said she has been inspired by Mary Jackson.
Barri’ Ragland-English, who is an intern at NASA’s Langley Research Center, said she has been inspired by Mary Jackson.
Credit: NASA

“I believe that he not only represents success but represents the endless possibilities of what underrepresented people in STEM can do when one puts their mind to it,” White said.

Ragland-English and White are Black students that attend historically Black universities, a fact that has helped them recognize those who came before and the opportunities they both have to make strives for younger people. Both of them have had to overcome stereotypes and assumptions about their inspirations and choices, something they hope to change in any way they can through their work.

“I never miss the opportunity to let my peers know about all the amazing opportunities that NASA has to offer, and I’ve also helped a few interested individuals apply for summer 2021 positions,” Ragland-English said. “Also, I’ve reached out to other students within my network that attend HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and encouraged them to apply as well.”

Ragland-English and White realize they are breaking stereotypes in pursuing careers in STEM, something they would tell younger students in their pursuits.

“If I had to give some advice to younger children who are misrepresented is that the options that are presented in front of you by society, your environment, or even your family are not all that is out there,” White said. “You have more options than becoming a musician, an athlete, or an entertainer. If you are good at something it doesn’t matter what it is, pursue it until you can’t anymore; that is your ticket out.”

Another Langley intern, Nipun Mediratta, was also moved by a Langley “Hidden Figure,” Katherine Johnson.

NASA Langley intern Nipun Mediratta was inspired by a Langley “Hidden Figure” Katherine Johnson.
NASA Langley intern Nipun Mediratta was inspired by a Langley “Hidden Figure” Katherine Johnson.
Credit: NASA

“Her immense contribution in the 1962 orbital mission of John Glenn is something that has always inspired me,” he said. “It was a turning point in the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in space.”

Mediratta, a graduate student from Arizona State University, is interning for Langley’s Office of the Chief Information Officer’s Data Science Team. He has seen firsthand the power and value of diversity and how it can drive innovation.

“Brainstorming sessions become even more interesting and productive as different ideas are pitched, thereby giving you an overall view and perspective of the solution before making a final decision,” he said. “This is when inventions and breakthroughs happen.”

All three interns are thankful for the opportunity to learn at NASA and are grateful to have a support system of family and friends for inspiration and guidance.

“Although sometimes the road to success can be very challenging and discouraging, I always remind myself that nobody can stand in the way of my dreams no matter what obstacles I may endure,” Ragland-English said.

Interning at NASA is a reminder that no mission or task is ever done alone, as a team diverse in backgrounds, experiences, and educations are needed to complete any goal. No matter the mission or task, having a curious mind is a solid foundation for any intern to have in a STEM field.

“Curiosity is the most underrated attribute a person in the STEM community can have,” White said. “If you never stop asking questions then no one can stop you.”

In her role as intern coordinator and ally to underrepresented communities, Gangitano knows the value and importance of the opportunities only a NASA internship can provide – a feeling amplified during Black History Month. Current interns inspired by Langley’s Hidden Figures will inspire others in the future.

“Black History Month reminds me of the stories that we must keep at the forefront as we create an equitable society and workplace,” she said. “It’s not just a month of celebration, but one that is continuous.”