Brilliant Woman Breaks Record at Florida State University, Becomes First Black Woman to get PhD in Nuclear Physics

Kalissa Villafana has made history by becoming the first Black woman to be awarded a Doctorate in Nuclear Physics from Florida State University, widely known as FSU. Born in Trinidad, Kalissa’s brilliant journey started at Florida A&M University, where she did her undergraduate course in Physics. Her interest in physics was developed at an all-girls Catholic high school through some interactive experiments in physics, which introduced her to the laws of matter and energy.

Kalissa’s decision to pursue a career in physics occurred when she was only 12 years old. This international student wished to study at a place that was supportive yet rich in resources; she found this to be at FSU with a world-renowned physicist and her mentor, Mark Riley. Riley proved instrumental in her academic path as he increased her possibilities with more mentors and resources, made possible presenting research at conferences, and allowed her to conduct research in different parts of the country.

At FSU, Kalissa used her much-needed time to mentor other minority students through the process of advanced studies. Knowing most in Trinidad know nothing about getting a funded Ph.D. here in the United States, she set out to show the avenues present for such academic achievement.

Kalissa’s historic mark for being the 96th Black woman to receive a Ph.D. in physics proves yet again her persistence and resilience in overcoming the challenges of the course. She wants to be an encouragement to other Black women that they could do it, even within an environment that is historically male and predominantly white. She encourages all young women to chase their passion and bring fresh ideas to the field.

Her PhD research involved nuclear structure studies using gamma-ray spectroscopy. Beyond this, she hopes to transfer her skills in medical physics, with a specific concentration on radiation physics and accelerators, and a specific health care analytics interest. She hopes to be able to work in the research and development field in terms of medical devices, being able to take her knowledge further with continued research and development in healthcare solutions.

It is a personal triumph achieved by Kalissa Villafana, but, more importantly, it stands as a beacon of hope that barriers can be surmounted through perseverance and passion, leading to great feats for would-be scientists, particularly women and minorities.