We were lucky to catch up with Her Excellency United Nations Peace Ambassador NGO ECOSOC Dr. Angela J. Nealy, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. recently and have shared our conversation below.
Her Excellency United Nations Peace Ambassador NGO ECOSOC Dr. Angela J. , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
I first met former NASA Astronaut Dr. Mae C. Jemison, M.D.in March 1994 at the Madam C.J. Walker Building in Indianapolis, Indiana when our lecture series, StewardSpeakers.com invited Dr. Jemison, M.D. to speak. I was chairwoman of the Logistics Committee, which gave me access to every speaker from 1986 until 2010. On this particular occasion I was asked to stay with Dr. Jemison, M.D. in the lobby of the Madame C.J. Walker where a table had been set up so all of the middle school and high school students could meet and receive an autograph from Dr. Jemison. I knelt down next to Dr. Jemison waiting on the students to each present their books to be autographed. Dr. Jemison asked me what I did. I responded that I was over Logistics’ for the series and an Educator by trade. Dr. Jemison asked what I taught? I responded, chemistry! She then asked and answered, “Would you work for me?” before I could say yes, she said “of course you will and when I return to my office in two weeks, I will send the application. You can write three essays no problem? Yes of course you can write three essays.!” The rest is the herstory these last 30 years.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I want fans to know that you can be an academician and be an athlete in that order. I am most proud of my students who are now between the ages of 35 and 53. A number of them have their Ph.D.’s, are corporate executives, have their own businesses and schools. I was adopted by two “Saints”, Mrs. Betty J. Bullard-Nealy 1929-2006 and Mr. Donald G. Nealy, 1928-2005. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Chemical Engineering from Fisk University and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. A Master of Science as a Teacher as Decision Maker, Lilly Fellow from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and an honoris causa, Doctor of Philosophy from Trinity International University of Ambassadors in Atlanta, Georgia. I have won two Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards one from the 44th President Lifetime Legacy Award Dr. Barack H. Obama and The Presidential Award Joseph R. Biden, Jr. as well as becoming a Special Envoy Peace Ambassador United Nation Global Leadership in the area of Quality Education and the Empowerment of Women and Girls UN New York.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Referrals from present clients and google. If you google me, you can read articles about me, listen to podcast interviews and see my athletic pursuits. Social media has been a friend to me and allowed me to be seen.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
2002 I decided to try out for the Indianapolis Vipers Pro Women’s Tackle Football team which was starting. During the NFL standard tryouts, we had to run the 40 yd dash. three cone run, vertical jump and run plays. During the running of the plays the 350 lb. coach thought it was a good idea to block me (135lbs). In the process I tore my left ACL. My times from the try outs made me the number one (#1) draft pick in a “herstoric” draft which was held in the summer of 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia. I was hurt and was placed on the Injured Reserve (IR) list; therefore, I was moved to the second draft choice to represent Indianapolis, Indiana. I actually was chosen 20/50 in the second round and was drafted to the Indianapolis Vipers. I had surgery and was back running again in 30 days. I returned to the rookie training camp only to strain my right ACL. I had surgery and returned to play again in 30 days. I was finally released to play in the semifinal and Superbowl game at the age of 42.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Facebook.com/Plant_13
- Instagram: @unambrdrajn and The_Plant_Whisperers_Inc
- Facebook: DrAngela J Nealy
- Linkedin: United Nations Peace Ambassador NGO ECOSOC Dr. Angela J. Nealy
- Youtube: Ambassador Dr. Angela J. Nealy
- Soundcloud: Dr. Angela J. Nealy
- Other: MSDWT- Alumni Note
https:/www.wtsfoundation.org/Dr. Angela J. Nealy
Keep Indiana Learning Black Excellence Series – A Conversation with Ambassador Dr. Angela J. Nealy, Ph.D.
Andre The Beast Crayton Show: Dr. Angela J. Nealy Part 1 and Part 2
Bathrobe Moments rounds out the week with Dr. Angela J. Nealy
Image Credits
ARShotit