How did Ayonnah Tinsley know STEM was for her? The Iovine and Young Academy student recently chronicled her journey on the CBS show, Mission Unstoppable. The series, hosted by actress Miranda Cosgrove, highlights female trailblazers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Tinsley’s “Stem Bestie” segment charts her engineering interest origin story to her time at the Academy, where she continues to innovate and create while shining a light on the unique sides of STEM.

Ayonnah on CBS Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove!💜

As Tinsley shares in the Unstoppable segment, her advocacy for STEM kicked off after visiting, and ultimately working at, the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). Inspired by astronauts Sandy Magnus and Danni Washington (the first Black woman to host her own science show) Tinsley made plans to major in aerospace engineering.

“These ladies taught me about the power of science communication. The power of being able to talk about your passion in STEM in digestible ways to so many different audiences. Being an education specialist at NASM helped me hone in on this skill with having to explain forces of flight from toddlers to former astronauts (the job did have some perks). And this skill ended up being the focus of my IYA application!” Tinsley tells us. 

Tinsley ended up studying at the Academy because of the close-knit cohort model and the fact that its structure allows her to explore her STEM side while tapping into her imagination. 

“One day my roommate is explaining to me the psychology behind how stoves are designed, and the next day someone in my class is 3D printing parts of a shoe (shoutout to Iris Leung and Michael Steele Jr.),” she says of the Academy’s multidimensional scope. 

The now-sophomore is currently focused on getting “comfortable with being uncomfortable” with endeavors like 3D designing, while pursuing her interests in sports media and videos that capture the distinctive values of STEM, like the science behind cornrows. She’s been producing her own STEMix (her “word for embracing how STEM intersects with hobbies and everyday activities”) video spotlight series while pushing herself academically. 

As she champions STEM through original media, Tinsley is clearing up misconceptions about the acronym’s power and purview. The world of STEM she’s seen isn’t lifeless and lacking personality – it leaves room for creativity and individuality. This is something she wishes she had known earlier, and she’s grateful for shows like Unstoppable that shatter archaic perceptions of the space. 	

“There are people that wear glitter boots, and have insane eyeliner looks, and beautiful Black hairstyles,” she adds. 

And for those looking to get into STEM but don’t know how, Tinsley advises to find out how it can work for you. She aspires to see people approaching the field armed with ingenuity and personal passion.

“I want to see science fair projects about the chemical reactions in hair products that are popular for Black girls,” she shares. “I am absolutely obsessed with teaching and talking about these fun connections, and I hope that this can inspire more students to rethink science education in this way.”

Tinsley’s next act? She hopes to channel her efforts into public speaking so she can spread her message at schools. We look forward to seeing more of this veritable “STEM Bestie” on stage and on screen in the future. 

Student Featured as ‘Stem Bestie’ on Mission Unstoppable Series

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