Marguerite Thomas Williams, PhD, was the first African-American to earn a doctorate in geology. She enrolled in the Miner Teachers College and earned a certification and a scholarship to Howard University. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science in 1923, then pursued a master’s degree in geology at Columbia University. She completed her doctorate at the Catholic University of America in 1942. Her research showed how human activities, including deforestation and agriculture, can accelerate erosion and contribute to flooding. She became a full-time professor at Miner Teachers College and taught evening classes at Howard, dedicating her life to education and making geology a more inclusive field.
