02/26/2024
During Black History Month Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is proud to celebrate and honor our “Pearls of Black History.”
We’re spotlighting members of our organization who have historically and currently blazed trails, many of them the FIRST in their respective industries. These history-makers carry the true meaning of being pioneers with vision. Our Pearls of Black History are Sisters who truly represent refinement and wisdom.
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Dr. Raven Baxter is a Molecular Biologist, STEM Educator and Science Communicator. Also known as; “Dr. Raven the Science Maven,” Sister Raven believes in promoting diversity in science and technology. She shares her message that science is for everyone through collaborations with young scientists of all backgrounds.
Trained as a molecular biologist, Sister Raven has researched the evolution of structure and function in protein chaperones. These are molecules that guide new proteins to their proper spot in a protein chain. She has also worked with high-throughput drug discovery. This process that looks at large numbers of compounds to identify a specific biological target, as a means to advance disease treatments.
Sister Raven has also partnered with the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) during Earth Week 2021 to create a series of videos to educate students about climate change.
Sister Raven was a Distinguished Lecturer at Princeton University with its, “Amplifying Voices Distinguished Lecture Series.” She also narrated a COVID-19 series for the American Museum of Natural History.
Sister Raven been honored by the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History, where she’s featured in the Afrofuturism exhibit. Open until March 2024, the exhibit shines a light on the significant contributions of African-Americans to the world of science and technology. She is also recognized in Fortune magazine's "40 Under 40 in Health" list for 2021, and Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2022.
Last year, Sister Raven founded a nonprofit organization, The Science Haven The Science Haven, an entirely Black-led initiative aiming to inspire and educate. This week, we marked another milestone in Black history with the launch of our Stellar Dreams Program. The organizations mission is to gift 100 telescopes to 100 students from grades 5-12 nationwide, sparking curiosity and passion for the mysteries of the cosmos. After a successful launch in Buffalo, The Science Haven plans to broaden its reach to cities like Los Angeles, D.C. and Greensboro, NC.
Currently, Sister Raven has recently embarked on a new journey, as the Director of Science Communication at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC at its cutting-edge Chronic Illness Recovery Institute. Her role involves bridging the gap between medical research and understanding, facilitating effective communication that enhances patient care and recovery.
Sister Raven earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in biology at Buffalo State College. She then went on to earn a PhD in science education from the University of Buffalo.
Sister Raven was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Gamma Phi Omega Chapter in Spring 2015. Her connection and love for AKA runs deep as a proud third-generation legacy member.🩷💚
