Black History Month
February 2024
'Black Inventors and Innovations'
'Black Inventors and Innovations'
From groundbreaking inventions to revolutionary innovations, delve into the often-overlooked stories of Black inventors who shaped history. Discover the enduring impact and resilience behind their creations, highlighting the rich tapestry of contributions that have influenced our world.
February 1, 2024 - AAERG Banner Raising
10:00 am -10:45 am PST
Join the African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG) and the IDEA Office in raising the Black History Month Banner.
The location is just inside the main gate (Blackberry Gate) next to B65.
February 1, 2024 - AAERG Banner Raising
10:00 am -10:45 am PST
Join the African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG) and the IDEA Office in raising the Black History Month Banner.
The location is just inside the main gate (Blackberry Gate) next to B65.
February 2, 2024
Townhall with Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe - Director of the DOE Office of Science
1:00 pm to 1:45 pm PST
Please join Director Witherell and the African American ERG as we host a very special townhall with the Director of the Office of Science for the U.S. Department of Energy, Dr. Asmeret Berhe.
Dr. Berhe came to the U.S. from Eritrea to pursue graduate studies in Political Ecology and Biogeochemistry. When she arrived at UC Berkeley for her Ph.D. program, she eventually found her way to the Lab as a graduate student researcher. She is currently on leave from UC Merced, where she holds the Ted and Jan Falasco Chair in Earth Sciences and Geology and is a Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry.
An accomplished scientist and administrator, her scholarship and efforts to ensure equity and inclusion of people from all walks of life in the scientific enterprise have received numerous awards and honors. Dr. Berhe is a member of the National Academy of Engineering; she is also a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America and a member of the inaugural class of the U.S. National Academies’ New Voices in Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
Please join us to hear about Dr. Berhe’s remarkable career, along with a conversation between her and Director Witherell, and Q&A with the audience.
Bio
Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe is the Director of the Office of Science for the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Berhe is currently on leave from the University of California, Merced where she holds the Ted and Jan Falasco Chair in Earth Sciences and Geology; is a Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry; and served as Associate Dean for Graduate Education. Her research focus lies at the intersection of soil science, global change science, and political ecology with an emphasis on how the soil system regulates the earth’s climate and the dynamic two-way relationship between the natural environment and human communities.
She previously served as the Chair of the U.S. National Committee on Soil Science and member of the Board of International Scientific Organizations at the National Academies; Leadership board member for the Earth Science Women’s Network; and founding a co-principal investigator in the ADVANCEGeo Partnership – a National Science Foundation funded effort to empower scientists to respond to and prevent harassment, discrimination, bullying, and other exclusionary behaviors in research environments.
Her scholarship and efforts to ensure equity and inclusion of people from all walks of life in the scientific enterprise have received numerous awards and honors. Dr. Berhe is a member of the National Academy of Engineering; she is also a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America and a member of the inaugural class of the U.S. National Academies’ New Voices in Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
Berhe received a B.Sc. in Soil and Water Conservation from the University of Asmara; an M.Sc. in Political Ecology from Michigan State University; and a Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
e global STEM ecosystem.
February 7, 2024
Dr. Jonelle Basso - Biologist Research Scientist at the DOE Joint Genome Institute
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST
Bio
Dr. Jonelle Basso is a research scientist at the DOE Joint Genome Institute. She is a microbial ecologist whose research currently focuses on plant-microbe interactions. In 2022, she was a recipient of the LBNL Early Career LDRD award where her latest work explores the interactions of viruses with plant microbiomes in the rhizosphere. A native of the beautiful twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Basso holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her scientific vision is to conduct and communicate science while engaging with students of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. She also aims to positively sculpt the world through scientific discovery and contribute to a more inclusive scientific community.
February 14, 2024
James Lee - Computer Systems Engineer, LBNL Computing Sciences
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST
Bio
James Lee joined Berkeley Lab in 1998 and has spent the last 25+ years supporting science in various information technology roles as a Computer Systems Engineer. James has a broad scope of expertise in planning and managing technical projects, implementing and managing technology infrastructure, troubleshooting, and system administration.
He currently leads the Computing Sciences IT group, which provides dedicated support for a range of technology systems and services in the Lab’s Computing Sciences Area. James shared his thoughts on spending 25+ years supporting science at Berkeley Lab in various IT roles.
February 16, 2024
ETA's 7th Annual Black History Month (BHM) Celebration
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST
Join us for ETA’s 7th annual Black History Month Celebration, highlighting Black Inventors and Innovations (and more) with a game of Jeopardy! This popular virtual event is not to be missed. It is a great way to learn about Black history and connect with allies from across the Lab. This will be a hybrid event. Join us in person at 90-3122 or via Zoom. All are encouraged to attend in person.
February 21, 2024
Satya Gontcho a Gontcho - Physicist Project Scientist/Engineer - Physics, Dark Energy
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST
Bio
Satya Gontcho A Gontcho, Ph. D. is a French cosmologist working at the forefront of the efforts to build the largest three-dimensional map of the observable universe ever made by mankind in order to shed light on the nature of dark energy, the force responsible for the accelerated expansion of the universe. Dr Gontcho A Gontcho is a project scientist for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument and joined the Physics Division in 2021. In her spare time, Dr Gontcho A Gontcho uses her expertise as a scientist and as a performance artist to explore the various ways storytelling can be adapted to reach a broad audience and bring the public’s attention to the wonder of understanding the universe in which we live.
February 25, 2024
Oakland's Black Joy Parade
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm PST
For the first time, the Lab’s African American ERG and the Government & Community Relations Office are teaming up to participate in Oakland's 2024 Black Joy Parade!
The AAERG and GCR will have a booth at the event and are looking for Lab ambassadors to join us on Sunday, February 25th, 2024, to help set up and run the Lab’s booth, so pick a time slot and join us for the fun! All employees are welcome to participate. To Volunteer - Please go HERE
The Black Joy Parade exists to provide the Black community and allies a live experience that celebrates their influence on cultures past, present, and future. The Lab’s participation is a valuable way to share with the local community more about who we are and what we do.
The event is open to the public from 12pm-5pm. To learn more about the Black Joy Parade please visit blackjoyparade.org
February 28, 2024
Theresa Triplett - Institutional Assurance & Integrity Manager LDO, CECO
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST
Bio
Theresa Triplett joined the Laboratory in 2009 as the institutional Issues Management Program Manager. In this role, she was responsible for the development and implementation of policies, processes, guidance, and training for an institutional, large-scope program that includes: issues and corrective action tracking, causal analysis, effectiveness reviews/assessments, performance monitoring and analysis, and lessons learned.
Ms. Triplett was later promoted to the Office of Institutional Assurance and Integrity (OIAI) Manager and has been in this role at the Laboratory since 2017. As the OIAI Manager, Ms. Triplett manages a staff of 7 individuals and oversees the Laboratory’s contract assurance and quality assurance systems, and ethics and integrity compliance program. Ms. Triplett also serves as the University of California Campus Ethics and Compliance Officer, and the Laboratory’s Whistleblower/Whistleblower Protection Locally Designated Official who receives and responds to allegations of improper governmental activities.
Prior to joining the Laboratory in 2009, Ms. Triplett served in various roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, a District of the United States Federal Reserve System, during her 9-year tenure at the Reserve Bank. These roles included: the District Business Continuity Manager, Risk Management Program Manager, Cash Services Supervisor, and Corporate Strategy Analyst. In these roles, she managed the Reserve Bank’s Business Continuity Program with a staff of 4 individuals, managed Cash Vault Services with a staff of 11 individuals, administered the Reserve Bank’s enterprise risk management program, and led projects and initiatives at the Corporate-level to meet strategic goals.
Ms. Triplett also served as a Branch Manager, Region Trainer, and an Operations Analyst during her 15-year tenure at World Savings. While at World Savings, she managed four different asset-size bank branches and later applied these skills to training approximately 350 staff in the Los Angeles California region, and to analyzing and forecasting the general and administrative costs to operating World Savings bank branches across the United States.
Ms. Triplett has over 34 years of experience with managing institutional departments and programs, both in private and public organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance, with minors in Economics and Accounting, from Wichita State University.
February 2023
'Celebrating Black Women in STEM '
'Celebrating Black Women in STEM '
The AAERG theme for Black History Month is African American/Black Women in STEM. We celebrate our Sisters in STEM through storytelling of their career trajectory, lessons learned, and inspirational moments that have shaped their impact at the Lab and in the global STEM ecosystem.
A Message from Michael Brandt, AAERG Executive Sponsor
"As the executive sponsor of the Lab’s African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG), I look forward every year to sharing special celebrations in February to honor Black History Month. The theme this year is African American/Black Women in STEM. During the month you will hear stories of Black women, their careers, and inspirational moments that have shaped their impact on the Lab. One such woman is DOE’s Director of the Office of Science Dr. Asmet Asefaw Berhe, the first Black woman to hold that position."
February 1, 2023 11-11:30 PST - Banner Gathering
Thank you for joining the African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG) and the IDEA Office in placing the Black History Month Banner on the Blackberry Gate Banner Wall at the Lab.
Standing left to right: Adley Leblanc, Michael Brandt, Dionne Myers, Deborah Smith and David von Damm.
Sitting: Colette Flood, Janie Pinterits, Laura Shaw, Katrina King, Paris Gordon
Photographer: Mary Barnum
February 14, 2023 9-10am PST - Black Resistance
Join the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Black History Month program
Theme: Black Resistance
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 14
Time: 9-10 am (PST) on Teams.
Thursday, February 16 - 12 Noon PST - "African American/Black Women in STEM" Speaker Series with Selena Hilton, Compensation Analyst
Selena Hilton is a Compensation Analyst who joined the lab in 2013. She gained her compensation experience at the lab and was promoted from within the department. Prior to her joining the lab, she was an Executive Assistant for Fortune 500 companies, including Kodak Gallery and Federated Media.
Selena carries a ready smile and loves the art of conversation. She enjoys good company and good conversation. Selena is an avid reader and conversationalist. She will start a conversation anywhere and with anyone and totally enjoy the experience.
Tuesday, February 21 - 9am -10am PST - 50 Ways to Fight Bias: Black Women in the Workplace
Register via Eventbrite
Join on Zoom
This Black History month, Lean In is hosting a 50 Ways to Fight Bias session around the specific biases & microaggressions Black Women face in the workplace and how we can feel empowered & equipped to take action. Our Women in the Workplace report found that:
For every 100 men hired into manager roles, only 64 Black women are hired.
49% of Black women feel that their race or ethnicity will make it harder for them to get a raise, promotion, or chance to get ahead, compared to just 3% of white women and 11% of women overall.
Only 11% of Black Women feel as if Black Women have allies in the workplace.
We recognize the importance of validation and creating a safe space for Black Women to come together and additionally want to be proactive in ways to educate those from other cultures on the specific obstacles Black Women face in the workplace.
To learn more about event: Click Here
Tuesday, February 21 - 12 Noon PST - "African American/Black Women in STEM" Speaker Series with Jessica Granderson, PhD,Staff Scientist & Interim Division Director of Building Technology and Urban Systems Division
Dr. Jessica Granderson is a Staff Scientist and the Deputy of Research Programs for the Building Technology and Urban Systems Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She is a member of the Whole Building Systems Department. Dr. Granderson holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and an AB in Mechanical Engineering from Harvard University.
Her research focuses on energy management and information systems (EMIS), fault diagnostics and control, and advanced measurement and verification. She is the recipient of the 2015 Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Award for Leadership in Research, and the 2020 Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer. She was among 15 honorees for Women @ The Lab 2020. For W@TL 2020, the Women Scientists & Engineers Council received 98 nominations for 68 nominees, a significantly greater number than in previous years.
Thursday, February 23 - 11am PST - "African American/Black Women in STEM" Speaker Series with Paris Gordon, ALS User Services Office Administrator
Paris Gordon began her career with Berkeley Lab 25 years ago in 1998, in the Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Division Office. She has supported the EH&S Waste Management Group and Engineering. Later she was recruited to Human Resources to support Material Sciences and the Molecular Foundry, Engineering, ATAP, Nuclear Science and Physics. She enjoys working with students and staff both onsite, on campus and abroad. Known for forming relationships across various departments.
Paris is a social butterfly who enjoys spending time with wonderful people and loves basketball, specifically ‘March Madness’ which she has been a fan of since the sixth grade.
Friday, February 24 - 12 Noon PST- ETA’s 6th Annual Black History Month (BHM) Celebration
Join us for ETA’s 6th annual Black History Month Celebration highlighting black history in science (and more) with a lively game of trivia! This popular event is not to be missed and a great way to connect with allies from across the Lab.
This will be a virtual event on Friday, February 24, 2023 @ Noon - 1pm.
Monday, February 27 - 1pm EST, 10am PST - DOE's Black History Month Fireside Chat: Black Resistance, Energy, and Climate Justice
To watch visit the Energy.gov Livestream
Shalanda H. Baker, Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity and Secretarial Advisor on Equity
The Honorable Shalanda H. Baker is the Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the U.S. Department of Energy and Secretarial Advisor on Equity. Prior to her Senate confirmation, she served as the Nation’s first-ever Deputy Director for Energy Justice. Before joining the Biden-Harris Administration, she was a Professor of Law, Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University. She has spent over a decade conducting research on the equity dimensions of the global transition away from fossil fuel energy to cleaner energy resources. She is the author of over a dozen articles, book chapters, and essays on renewable energy law, energy justice, energy policy, and renewable energy development.
To read more about Shalanda Baker: Click here
Colette Pichon Battle, Esq., Attorney, Climate Advocate, Alliance Builder
Colette Pichon Battle (she/her) is the Vision and Initiatives Partner for Taproot Earth. She spearheaded efforts around equitable climate disaster recovery, global migration, community economic development, and energy democracy through the Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy, an organization that she founded in 2005. Colette serves on the governance council of the Southern Movement Assembly, co-chairs the national Water Equity and Climate Resilient Caucus with PolicyLink, serves on the steering committee of the Ocean Justice Forum, and is a lead architect of the 5-state, multi-issue initiative Gulf South for a Green New Deal.
To read more about Colette Pichon Battle: Click here
Monday, February 27 - 12 Noon PST - "African American/Black Women in STEM" Speaker Series with Therese M. Leone,Chief Laboratory Counsel for the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Therese M. Leone serves as Chief Laboratory Counsel for the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab where she leads a team of dedicated legal and regulatory professionals in the Office of the Laboratory Counsel. As a member of senior management, she oversees the legal function for the Lab and helps to ensure adherence to requirements of the University of California/U.S. Department of Energy contract, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and UC/LBNL policies and procedures. In addition, she oversees the Berkeley Lab Export Control compliance function.
In addition, during her tenure in the UC Office of the General Counsel, she served as UC Merced’s first Chief Campus Counsel. She also serves as the chair of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)’s Board Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusivity.
Ms. Leone began her legal journey in private practice as a labor and employment litigator. She is a frequent speaker on many legal and policy issues related to higher education. She is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (J.D.) and Northwestern University (B.A.)
February 2022
'A Plan of Action'
'A Plan of Action'
The "Plan of Action" theme is representative of the significant Black/African Americans such as Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman and many others that had plans to move Black/African Americans from a place of despair, oppression and hopelessness. This year's Black History Month "Plan of Action" theme is to infuse the same motivation to our Black/African American community to develop plans for themselves (i.e, career plans, personal goal setting, etc.), which are instrumental in the continuous efforts to move into a place of equality.
February 1, 2022 - Banner Raising
African American Employee Resource Group steering committee members Miles Green and Kelly Johnson officially start Black History Month by hanging the ERG banner with the help of Janie Pinterits from the IDEA office.
A Message from Michael Brandt, AAERG Executive Sponsor
"Celebrating February as Black History Month goes back more than 100 years. As the Deputy Director for Operations and the Executive Sponsor of the Lab’s African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG), I ask that you take time this month to join me in learning about Black history and honoring the many contributions of Black leaders past and present."
Wednesday, February 9 - 12 noon - "A Plan of Action" Speaker Series with Damian Rouson,Staff Scientist, Computing Sciences
Damian Rouson is the Group Lead for the Computer Languages and Systems Software (CLaSS) Group at Berkeley Lab. He is a mechanical engineer with experience in simulating turbulent flows in multiphase, quantum, and magnetohydrodynamic media. He leads the development of the OpenCoarrays parallel runtime library and the Morfeus partial differential equation solver framework. His work at Berkeley Lab involves researching ways to accelerate predictions of climate change's regional impacts, teaching UPC++, and contributing to the LLVM flang Fortran compiler. He holds a B.S. from Howard University and a M.S. and Ph.D. from Stanford University, all in mechanical engineering. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of California.
Watch the recording of this event: Damian Rouson
(If you are unable to open the video, log in with your Berkeley Lab credentials and verify third-party cookies are enabled on your browser.)
Friday, February 11 - 12 noon - ETA’s 5th Annual Black History Month (BHM) Celebration
Join us for ETA’s 5th annual Black History Month Celebration highlighting black history in science (and more) with a lively game of trivia! This popular event is not to be missed and a great way to connect with allies from across the Lab. This will be a virtual event on Friday, February 11, 2022 @ Noon - 1pm.
Thursday, February 17 - 12 noon - "A Plan of Action" Speaker Series with Deborah Smith, Sr. Administrator, Physics Division
Deborah joined the Lab in 2005 and spent most of her time at the Lab managing the ALS User Office and coordinating the ALS User Meeting. Currently, she supports the Physics Division’s Sr. Management and works with the division admins to provide excellent customer service to the division’s scientific groups. When she is not supporting Sr. Management, she manages Physics Division Office logistics such as Space Utilization, Property Inventory, Fellowship Searches, and before COVID, Division, Director, and DOE Reviews. She is a people person and looks forward to the day we can all return to the Lab collaborating once again. She has completed a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration Degree from John F. Kennedy University, and a Liberal Arts Associate in Arts Degree, focusing on the Social and Behavioral Sciences from Berkeley City College. She profoundly believes in Work-Life balance, so in her spare time, she likes to read, sew, play with her dogs, attend the theater/symphony, go to the movies, and discuss the Marvel Universe.
Watch the recording of this event: Deborah Smith
(If you are unable to open the video, log in with your Berkeley Lab credentials and verify third-party cookies are enabled on your browser.)
Wednesday, February 23 - 12 noon - "A Plan of Action" Speaker Series with Brieanna Wright, Internship Coordinator, Workforce Development & Education
Brieanna Wright is the Internship Coordinator for Berkeley Lab’s Workforce Development & Education. For more than a decade, Brieanna has worked with students and staff to increase diversity in higher education and build vibrant, inclusive communities. Prior to joining Berkeley Lab in 2021, Brieanna served as the Director of UC Berkeley’s Educational Opportunity Program, where she led the creation of support services for first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students. Brieanna’s work has been recognized with awards from UC Berkeley’s Gender Equity Resource Center and the Excellence in Advising & Student Services Awards Program. She is deeply committed to supporting the development of our next generation of scientists. In her talk, Brieanna will share how she conceptualized a plan of action for her own career path to the Lab.
Watch the recording of this event: Brieanna Wright
(If you are unable to open the video, log in with your Berkeley Lab credentials and verify third-party cookies are enabled on your browser.)
Thursday, February 24 - 12 noon
Black History Month Celebration with Candace Doby: “Courage at Work”
Black History Month Celebration with Candace Doby: “Courage at Work”
The African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG) and the IDEA Office are pleased to announce that Candace Doby, speaker, author and coach, will join us for this year’s Black History Month Celebration.
Now, more than ever, organizations need leaders to act with courage. They need leaders who are willing and able to take worthwhile risks, navigate through uncertainty, and withstand challenges in order to position their organizations for growth in a constantly shifting corporate and non-profit world. According to research, courage is an essential leadership quality. But, when emerging leaders consider potential failure or rejection in the workplace as outcomes, they can find it difficult to choose courage — opting instead for safety and limited growth. That’s because they don’t know how to evaluate risks or leverage the internal resources they already have to face them. In this presentation, speaker and courage coach Candace Doby helps audience members discover what’s stopping them from stepping outside of their comfort zone at work and how to begin dismantling those barriers so they can take more risks — risks like having hard conversations about diversity and inclusion, showing up authentically for themselves and their teams, and challenging old systems that do not serve new workplace realities.
About Candace:
Candace Doby is an Atlanta-based speaker, author and courage coach who works with universities and organizations to help emerging leaders activate their personal courage in order to perform to their potential in school, work and life. Candace combines a decade of research on courage with her experiences leading marketing teams at Chipotle Mexican Grill, solo traveling to more than 20 countries, writing a book and starting a business. This unique combination equips her with the implementable strategies she shares with audiences to help them get out of their own way and put their mission in motion.
Candace is known for delivering those strategies with a blend of truth, love and a bit of shade to match the realness of courage, which prompts clients to refer to her in-person and virtual presence as “captivating”. Candace holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a master’s degree in Technology and Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also ran track.
Watch the recording of this event: BHM Celebration 2022
(If you are unable to open the video, log in with your Berkeley Lab credentials and verify third-party cookies are enabled on your browser.)
Thursday, February 24 - 5-6pm - Black History Month Groove Lounge
DJ Miles Green invites you to a funky good time! Join us on a journey exploring the endless contribution that African Americans have made to music, dance, art and culture.
February 2021
”Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.” ~ Ola Joseph
Berkeley Lab Events
Thursday, Feb 11 - 12 noon - With Fortitude and Faith: A Talk with Workforce Development Manager, Colette Flood
Friday, Feb 12 - 12 noon - ETA's Black History Month Celebration
Wednesday, Feb 17 - 12 noon - Documentary Viewing: Celebrating our Heroes: The Tuskegee Airmen
Thursday, Feb 25 - 12 noon - Black History Month Celebration
Event Recordings
Messages
Mike Witherell, Lab Director - Black History Month Recognition, Celebration, and Action 2021
Michael Brandt, Deputy Director of Operations - Black History Month 2021
UC President Michael V. Drake reflects on Black History Month
Resources
In Celebration of the Lab’s 90th Anniversary:
Interview with Michael Brandt, Executive Sponsor
February 2020
"If one has courage, nothing can dim the light which shines from within." ~ Maya Angelou
Berkeley Lab Events
February 1 - Black History Month Banner Raised by AAERG
February 14 - Energy Technologies Area’s Black History Month Celebration
February 22 - Third Annual Celebration of Black History Month
Event Recordings
Messages & Resources
February 2019
"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same" ~Marianne Williamson
Berkeley Lab Events
February 15 - Black Panther Screening
February 28 - Second Annual Celebration of Black History Month
Event Recordings
February 2018
Berkeley Lab Events
February 20, 21, 26 - “Hidden Figures” Film Screening
February 27 - Inaugural Black History Month Celebration with NASA Astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi
Resources
A Message from Michael Brandt, AAERG Executive Sponsor
"As the executive sponsor of the Lab’s African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG), I look forward every year to sharing special celebrations in February to honor Black History Month. The theme this year is African American/Black Women in STEM. During the month you will hear stories of Black women, their careers, and inspirational moments that have shaped their impact on the Lab. One such woman is DOE’s Director of the Office of Science Dr. Asmet Asefaw Berhe, the first Black woman to hold that position."