Katherine Johnson Submitted Photo
West Virginia University President Gordon Gee reacted to news today (Feb.24) of the death of Katherine Johnson, one of the subjects of Hidden Figures, and a West Virginian who did graduate work at the University, and was one of the first black students on campus.
“Katherine Johnson was a giant in our nation’s history,” President Gee said. “Without her, one wonders whether we would have ever succeeded in reaching the moon, at least as soon as we did. While recognition may have been late in coming, this state and this University are proud to have had a role in her education. The world lost a special soul today.”
In 2016, Johnson received a Presidential Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and was named to the University’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 2017.
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jb/02/24/20
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