Book Summary Dr Elvira Williams, a graduate of Howard University, Washington, DC, started her academic career at North Carolina Central University. In 1977, she received a doctorate degree in Physics from Howard University. She became the first woman of African descent in the State of North Carolina to earn a doctorate degree in Physics. Secondly, she became the fourth African American woman in the United States to receive the award. Her academic journey started from the country side city of Pollocksville, to the heights of academics as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina.