Historic Achievement: Ciara Sivels, 27, Earns PhD in Nuclear Engineering, Becomes First African-American Woman to Win Award at US University
Sivels' trajectory into STEM fields was redirected during high school when her culinary arts interest transformed into a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), guided by an encouraging teacher. "I remember the teacher from that class saying, ‘Oh, you’re really smart, you should think about doing something other than culinary,” shared Sivels in an interview with Huffington Post.
AKACHI NOEL 
In a groundbreaking accomplishment, 27-year-old Ciara Sivels has etched her name in history as the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan in the United States. Originating from Chesapeake, Virginia, Sivels began her academic journey at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she earned her Bachelor’s degree before making her mark at the University of Michigan.
Sivels' trajectory into STEM fields was redirected during high school when her culinary arts interest transformed into a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), guided by an encouraging teacher. "I remember the teacher from that class saying, ‘Oh, you’re really smart, you should think about doing something other than culinary,” shared Sivels in an interview with Huffington Post.
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She further expressed, “So that’s kinda how I switched over into engineering and eventually ended up at MIT and ended up in the nuclear program.”
During her academic pursuits, Sivels established "Women in Nuclear Engineering in Radiological Science," an organization committed to exposing more Black women to the world of STEM. Emphasizing the importance of representation and exposure, she stated, “I feel like my path could have been a lot easier if I would’ve been exposed to things at a different time. I still feel like exposure is key, and representation also helps because you have people that look like you that can help pull you up when you’re failing.”
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Ciara Sivels was one of only three black women completing her Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. Following the completion of her program, she achieved the distinction of being the first African-American female graduate in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences at the university, a triumph celebrated by the department on Twitter.
In 2019, Sivels was selected as one of the 125 national American Association for the Advancement of Science IF/THEN Ambassadors, recognizing her contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. This accolade is part of an outreach initiative to encourage the representation of women in STEM fields.
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Ciara Sivels' groundbreaking achievements stand as a testament to her dedication, resilience, and the transformative impact of representation in the realm of academic excellence.
