Edith Clarke

Edith Clarke made history as the first woman to earn a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1919. She later became the first professionally employed female electrical engineer in the United States. In addition to working as an engineer, Clarke invented the Clarke graphical calculator, a device that helped electrical engineers solve complex transmission-line equations more quickly and accurately. Her invention made engineers' work more efficient and transformed the modern world through projects such as the Hoover Dam and long-distance power generation.

Clarke was born in Howard County, Maryland, where she lived with her eight siblings and parents, however, she lost both of her parents by the age of 18. Using an inheritance from her family, she enrolled at Vassar College, where she studied mathematics and astronomy because engineering was not offered there and opportunities for women to study the subject were limited at the time. She graduated from Vassar College in 1908 with the foundation she needed to pursue engineering elsewhere. Over a period of 11 years, Clarke spent her time working and gaining the necessary experience to help her in her journey.

Even after earning her master's degree in electrical engineering, finding a job was difficult, as she was rejected by company after company because of her gender. She was eventually hired as a ‘computer’ by General Electric, where she performed complex mathematical calculations and supervised engineers as they worked. It was during her time there that she invented the Clarke graphical calculator, making engineers' work far more efficient.

Clarke's reputation, built through numerous achievements—including becoming the first woman to present a technical paper to the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) and the first female electrical engineering professor  in the United States—demonstrates how rejection can be turned into success.