Uplift: Discussing the career of Dr. Gladys West whose mathematical models are the backbone of GPS and military systems.

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Jacque Rushin and Robyn Donaldson.

Dr. Jacque Rushin (award‑winning business executive, educator, mental health professional, humanitarian) and Robyn Donaldson (2025 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award honoree for global STEM education) to discuss their celebration of Dr. Gladys B. West, a pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for the GPS (Global Positioning System).

The conversation explores the intersection of Juneteenth, Black excellence, STEM education, and Dr. West’s life story, captured in her memoir It Began with a Dream. The guests highlight Dr. West as one of America’s last living “hidden figures”—a brilliant yet historically overlooked Black woman whose mathematical genius revolutionized everyday life.

They detail how Dr. West rose from sharecropper roots, excelled academically at Virginia State University, earned her master’s and PhD, spent 39 years contributing to government research, and ultimately developed the algorithms and modeling processes that power GPS. They also describe their collaborative effort to create the Westward Bound Program, a life‑skills and STEM‑focused curriculum inspired by Dr. West’s principles of wisdom, endurance, strategy, and precision.

Through humorous, emotional, and deeply insightful dialogue, the episode uplifts Dr. West’s accomplishments while discussing mental health, technology dependence, the importance of exposure to STEM pathways for underserved youth, and how the legacy of Black innovators must remain central in cultural celebrations like Juneteenth.

Purpose of the Interview

1. To honor and amplify Dr. Gladys West’s legacy

She is a living mathematical pioneer whose GPS contributions transformed global navigation and modern technology.

2. To connect her story to Juneteenth’s spirit of liberation and recognition

The guests highlight the “delayed recognition” of Black innovators and the importance of acknowledging hidden figures whose brilliance shaped society.

3. To promote STEM exposure in underserved communities

Robyn Donaldson emphasizes equitable access to STEM opportunities so children can compete in a global, tech‑driven world.

4. To introduce and promote the Westward Bound Program

The curriculum teaches STEM principles, life skills, and personal development inspired by Dr. West’s methodologies.

5. To highlight themes of resilience, humility, and lifelong learning

Dr. West’s quiet determination and academic persistence serve as a blueprint for young people and adults alike.

Key Takeaways

1. Dr. Gladys West is a “living hidden figure.”

Her research and mathematical modeling are the backbone of GPS, impacting navigation, transportation, military systems, and everyday digital tools.

2. Her journey exemplifies brilliance shaped by humility and hard work.

Born in 1930 to sharecropper parents, she excelled academically despite segregation, pursued multiple degrees, and overcame racial and gender barriers in government research settings.

3. Juneteenth is the perfect backdrop for honoring Dr. West.

Jacque stresses that Juneteenth represents “delayed freedom,” paralleling the delayed recognition of Black inventors and innovators.

4. STEM exposure is vital to equity.

Robyn insists that Black children are fully capable of STEM success—they simply lack exposure, not aptitude. Without STEM skills, young people risk being left behind in a robotics‑driven economy.

5. Technology should complement—not replace—human thinking.

Jacque cites Dr. West’s personal preference for physical maps over GPS to maintain cognitive sharpness and critical thinking, a warning about over‑dependence on AI and automation.

6. The Westward Bound Program bridges STEM, life skills, and personal development.

Built on the acronym “WEST”—Wisdom, Endurance, Strategy, Tracking—the program supports youth, adults, and entrepreneurs seeking direction and resilience.

7. Mentorship, community, and relationships are central themes.

Dr. West’s success was nurtured by professors and role models at her HBCU—mirroring how Jacque and Robyn now uplift the next generation.

8. Her story resonates globally and intergenerationally.

From college students to young children to adults, the principles from her memoir and program promote self‑belief, vision, discipline, and perseverance.

Notable Quotes

(All taken directly from the transcript.)

On Dr. West’s impact

• “She’s a living hidden figure… her accomplishments have actually changed our way of living in every discipline of life.”
• “Her technology… makes these things possible.”

On Juneteenth and recognition

• “Juneteenth is about the delayed freedom of African Americans… and what Dr. West represents is the quiet, often overlooked brilliance that changes the world.”

On STEM access

• “Our kids are not pursuing high‑paying STEM careers, not because of their aptitude, but simply because they have not been exposed.”

On Dr. West’s genius

• “You don’t have to be loud to be a legacy.”
• “She is just so humble, but she’s just brilliant. She’s like a mathematical genius.”

On technology & mental health

• “She didn’t want to lose her critical thinking by depending on GPS… everything has a place, and it should complement you, not take over.”

On resilience & aspiration

• “You have to believe there is something greater than what you’re standing in.”
• “From sharecropper to pioneer—you can be someone from humble beginnings and change the world.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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