OREANDA-NEWS. January 20, 2016. Eastman, partnering with Milligan College, Northeast State, and East Tennessee State University, invites community members to come hear Dr. Mae Jemison, a former NASA astronaut and National Women's Hall of Fame Inductee, speak at Eastman's Toy F. Reid Employee Center on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, at 7 p.m. Seating is limited and will be on a first-come basis. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free to the public.

Dr. Jemison will share her experiences as a medical doctor, astronaut, entrepreneur, foundation founder, and visionary leader.
Eastman is hosting the event as part of a month-long celebration of Black History Month, honoring the traditions and contributions of African-Americans to science, technology, engineering, art and math.

"We're thrilled to host Dr. Jemison and bring her inspiring story of innovation, leadership and service into our community," said Perry Stuckey, Eastman's chief Human Resources officer. "Eastman team members share Dr. Jemison's unrelenting focus to make valuable, innovative contributions to our society. Her story aligns perfectly with Eastman's commitment to unleash the full potential of our powerfully diverse workforce by fostering inclusion that inspires innovation, encourages respect and promotes unlimited success."

From an early age, Dr. Jemison became interested in science. Combined with her desire to make a contribution to society, her scientific interests led her to serve in unique and meaningful ways. Before joining NASA as an astronaut, Jemison served as an Area Peace Corps medical officer in Sierra Leone and Liberia. While at NASA, she became the first woman of color in space. Her entrepreneurial efforts have focused on health care, energy and sustainable development.

She established The Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence in honor of her mother, an educator who firmly believed that every person can and should achieve personal excellence and make a unique contribution to society. The Foundation's efforts center on education with an emphasis on science. Its premier program, The Earth We Share International Science Camp, brings together children ages 12-16 from around the world to solve current global dilemmas. Dr. Jemison also leads 100 Year Starship (100YSS), an initiative seed funded by the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) to assure that the capability for human interstellar space travel to another star is possible within the next 100 years.

"At Eastman, we have an increasingly diverse, global team of talented and dedicated people working together to innovate for the future and create a brighter tomorrow," said Mark Cox, Eastman's senior vice president, chief manufacturing and engineering officer. "Dr. Jemison serves not only as an inspiration, but also as a testament to the amazing things you can accomplish when you believe in possibilities and strive to achieve them."

About Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in approximately 100 countries and had 2014 revenues of approximately \\$9.5 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA and employs approximately 15,000 people around the world. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.

Milligan College is a Christian liberal arts college in Northeast Tennessee whose vision is to change lives and shape culture through a commitment to servant leadership. With a 150-year history, Milligan now offers more than 100 majors, minors, pre-professional degrees and concentrations in a variety of fields, along with graduate and adult degree completion programs. To learn more about Milligan College, visit www.milligan.edu or call 800-447-5922.

Northeast State is a two-year Tennessee Board of Regents college providing university parallel programs designed for students desiring to transfer to another college or university, career programs for students planning to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, and continuing education and community service programs for professional growth and personal enrichment to citizens from five counties. The school has campuses in Blountville, Bristol, Elizabethton, Gray, Johnson City, and Kingsport. For more information, call 800-836-7822  or visit www.NortheastState.edu.

East Tennessee State University enrolls over 14,600 students in more than 100 degree programs in the arts and sciences, business and technology, education, and the health sciences. ETSU is home to the Academic Health Sciences Center which offers degree programs in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Pharmacy, and Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences. Visit www.etsu.edu.

"At Eastman, we have an increasingly diverse, global team of talented and dedicated people working together to innovate for the future and create a brighter tomorrow," said Mark Cox, Eastman's senior vice president, chief manufacturing and engineering officer. "Dr. Jemison serves not only as an inspiration, but also as a testament to the amazing things you can accomplish when you believe in possibilities and strive to achieve them."