JAMI VALENTINE MILLER, PH.D.
Motivational Speaker | STEM Advocate
ABOUT DR. JAMI
From a young age, I’ve always had a sense of motivation and passion driving me forward in science. To learn more about me, keep exploring my site or reach out directly.
Dr. Jami was the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Johns Hopkins University. She engages in many outreach activities, including speaking to young physicists, future scientists and engineers and those interested in non-academic physics careers, especially intellectual property.
Dr. Jami founded a website dedicated to African-American women in physics, AAWiP.com. The goal of the website is to honor the women who paved the way, to inspire future physicists, and to connect with all people interested in promoting diversity in Physics and other STEM fields.
A native Philadelphian, she was recruited to FAMU by the distinguished Rattler Dr. Leonard Johnson and was offered the Life–Gets–Better scholarship by President Humphries. She graduated cum laude in 1996.
Jami earned a master’s at Brown University, then went to Johns Hopkins University, where she studied the spin properties of rare earth metals under Professor C.L. Chien. In 2006 Jami became the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Johns Hopkins University. This also made her the first female FAMU alumna to earn a Ph.D. in Physics.
In 2006 she joined the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She examines patent applications for a wide variety of semiconductor devices. An outstanding primary examiner, she is also a full time telecommuter.
Dr. Jami is honored to have been a featured physicist in “Cool Careers in Physics” published by Sally Ride Science. Recent speaking engagements include the Scholars Spring Preview at Florida A&M University and the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) at the The College of New Jersey.
She has been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Florida A&M University and the
Distinguished Alumna Award from Johns Hopkins University.
She is a life member of the FAMU National Alumni Association (NAA), the National Society of Black Physicists, the National Society of Black Engineers and American Mensa. She is the parliamentarian for the Florida region of the Famu NAA and she is an executive board member for the Orlando Math Circle. She is on the alumni board for JHU Krueger school of Arts and Sciences as well as the Alumni Council for the JHU William H. Miller III Department of Physics and Astronomy
She is a wife and a mother. She enjoys traveling, fitness and sampling new cuisines.
STEM AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The heart of this talk is an explanation of the different types of intellectual property and where someone with a STEM degree fits in.
RESILIENCE DURING DIFFICULT TIMES
Covid has changed a lot for each of us. This talk give strategies to prioritize individual well being and strengthen resilience.
MY CAREER TRAJECTORY AND PERSEVERANCE IN STEM
This talk retraces the ups and downs of my educational and career path, while encouraging the audience to persevere through any challenges they may face. This talk is readily tailored to suit audiences of any age range.
African American Women in Physics, Inc.
Dr. Jami is the founder and CEO of AAWIP, Inc. The goal of AAWIP is to honor and inspire African American women in physics and astronomy: past, present and future. We seek to connect with allies interested in promoting diversity in physics and astronomy and other STEM fields.
Please visit www.aawip.com to learn more.
EDUCATION
1999-2007
PH.D. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
First African American woman to earn Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University.
1996-1999
SC.M. BROWN UNIVERSITY
First African American woman to earn a
degree in Physics at Brown University.
1992-1996
BS FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
First alumna from Florida A&M University
to continue on to earn Ph.D. in Physics.
RECENT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Recent Speaking Engagements
March 2022
AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY; INVITED SPEAKER
Title: Observation and Detection of African American Women in Physics: There are relatively few African American women with doctoral degrees in physics. This talk aims to highlight the existence of these physicists, review the challenges in identifying them, and discuss strategies to improve diversity and inclusion efforts.
July 2021
NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION STEM21 CONFERENCE; KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Title: Building Resilience in Science Students. In this talk Jami will discuss strategies that can be used to build resilience, with a particular emphasis on increasing the percentage of women and underrepresented minorities that choose to pursue STEM studies. She will use examples from her experiences as one of the few African American women with a PhD in physics and discuss strategies to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in STEM.
February 2021
WOMEN EMPOWERED IN STEM; KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Title: Resiliency: Succeeding through challenging times
MY VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND
Philanthropic Engagements
Founder, CEO since 2005
AFRICAN AMERICANWOMEN IN PHYSICS
The mission of AAWIP is to honor the women who paved the way, to inspire future physicists, and to connect with allies interested in promoting diversity in Physics and other STEM fields.
Board Member since 2019
ORLANDO MATH CIRCLE
The Orlando Math Circle creates opportunities for all children across Central Florida to develop a passion for mathematics.OMC achieves its mission by providing affordable or free math enrichment programs for 3rd–12th grade students of diverse backgrounds
Diversity Chair 2020-2021
AMERICAN MENSA
As the very first Chair of the American Mensa Diversity Committee, I helped to launch the committee, set the goals and structure of the committee and manage a dedicated team of volunteers.
Regional Parliamentarian, since 2020
FAMU NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
This is a brief and concise description of your volunteer experience. Use this space to describe the philanthropic activity, the population it supported, as well as your specific role, impact and contribution.
Advisory Council, 2020-2021
FAMU DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
The Advisory Council provided suggestions and guidance to the Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida A&M University
Committee on Minorities, Since 2020
AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY
The Committee on Minorities addresses the production, retention, and career development of minority physicists and gathers and maintains data on minorities in physics in support of these objectives.
"Don't be afraid to be the first, but don't be the last!"
--Jami Valentine Miller, Ph.D.
LET’S CONNECT
