Trailblazing Meteorologist June Bacon-Bercey Broke Barriers

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June Bacon-Bercey made history as the first Black woman to earn a degree in meteorology from UCLA in 1954, and later became the first degree-holding female TV meteorologist in the U.S. She also was the first woman and first Black person to earn the American Meteorological Society's Seal of Approval.

Why it matters

Bacon-Bercey's pioneering career paved the way for greater diversity and representation in the historically white and male-dominated field of meteorology. Her efforts to inspire women and people of color to pursue careers in weather science had a lasting impact.

The details

After working for the government at the National Weather Service and Atomic Energy Commission, Bacon-Bercey took night classes in journalism and joined WGR-TV in Buffalo, New York in the 1970s, becoming the first degree-holding female TV meteorologist. She later returned to the public sector at NOAA, where she helped create a program at Jackson State University to encourage underrepresented groups to consider meteorology careers. Bacon-Bercey also established a scholarship fund and was a founding board member of the AMS Board on Women and Minorities.

• Bacon-Bercey earned her meteorology degree from UCLA in 1954.
• She joined WGR-TV in Buffalo, New York in the 1970s.
• The Atomic Energy Commission ceased operations in 1975.