Cursory: Amie Fornah Sankoh made history as the first deaf Black woman to earn a doctoral degree in STEM in the United States. She obtained a PhD in Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Tennessee. Despite her hearing loss, Amie excelled in mathematics and chemistry, earning degrees in laboratory sciences and biochemistry.
Amie Fornah Sankoh has achieved a groundbreaking feat as the first deaf Black woman to earn a doctoral degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in the United States.
On May 20, she graduated with a PhD from the Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Tennessee (UT) Knoxville.
Amie was born in Sierra Leone without any hearing impairment, but at the age of three, she became deaf. Struggling academically in elementary school due to her hearing loss, Amie’s father decided to send her to his friend in the US in hopes of finding a cure.
She relocated to America and was adopted by her father’s best friend. However, despite seeking medical treatment, her deafness couldn’t be reversed. Amie then embraced the deaf community and learned American Sign Language (ASL). Academic life in the US remained challenging for Amie as she couldn’t understand her teachers or classmates.
However, she excelled in mathematics, finding solace in its visual nature. Though she couldn’t comprehend spoken instructions, she could follow formulas and step-by-step processes. Her passion for more advanced math led her to develop an interest in chemistry.
Amie earned an associate degree in laboratory sciences from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology before obtaining a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the same institution.
After college, Amie secured a job in a laboratory, where she participated in research that sparked her desire to pursue a PhD. Her doctoral research focused on studying the impact of hormones on plant-pathogen interactions.
During her time at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Amie faced the challenge of scientific communication. In laboratory settings, ongoing communication is vital, but conventional sign language lacks specific scientific signs.
She relied on facial expressions and lip reading to communicate with others. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated matters, as mask-wearing became prevalent. However, Amie’s colleagues wore transparent masks and made efforts to use written communication.
Amidst these challenges, Amie successfully defended her PhD thesis in front of a supportive audience of 150 friends, family members, and colleagues. Throughout her journey as a graduate student, she received significant research support and has authored four scientific publications to date.
Source: yen.com.gh
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