Trailblazing Achievement: Miona Shorts Becomes First Black Woman to Earn Astronomy Physics Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Miona Shorts made history as the first Black woman to earn a degree in Astronomy Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, driven by a lifelong passion for space, supported by scholarships, and now also pursuing entrepreneurship in the beauty industry.

Miona Shorts has made history by becoming the first Black woman to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her achievement not only sets a new record for the university but also places her as the second Black woman to ever graduate from the institution in its entire history.

Reflecting on her accomplishment, Miona admitted she was initially unaware of the milestone she was about to achieve. “I had no idea until I started looking up the history of some of the first Black students at the university,” she shared. Discovering that the first Black woman graduated exactly a century earlier gave her chills. “The numerical alignment is so beautiful, but the fact that it would take 100 years is very telling of the culture in the United States.”

Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Miona had always dreamed of reaching for the stars—literally. Her fascination with astronomy began at the age of two after watching a cheese commercial that featured a cow jumping over the moon. Inspired, she told her mother she wanted to go to the moon. Her mother’s reply—that she’d have to become an astronaut first—sparked a lifelong passion for space and science.

Miona’s commitment to her dream led her to prestigious experiences, including time at the Space Telescope Science Institute, where she met renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. “My cohort brother Deshawn McKinney got me a ticket that included a meet-and-greet. It was surreal meeting such a rock star in my world,” she said.

Her academic journey was also supported by the First Wave/MC Lyte Scholarship, which she received in high school. The full-tuition, four-year scholarship recognizes artistically gifted students who also demonstrate academic excellence.

Outside of science, Miona is also an entrepreneur. She’s working on launching a beauty and hair care brand named “Shukrah.” The brand’s flagship product is a multi-functional comb designed to detangle and condition hair with fewer steps. “Shukrah is starting as a hair tool company, but we plan to grow into the broader beauty space,” she explained.

Despite the challenges and underrepresentation in her field, Miona remains passionate, inspired, and driven—both by the cosmos and her vision for the future. “This love is deeply ingrained in me. It kind of makes me want to cry just thinking about how embedded it is,” she said.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION