The first Black female president of the American Chemical Society is Dr. Dorothy J. Phillips. She has devoted her life to dispelling myths, paving the way for future generations of scientists, and inspiring young people to consider STEM-related careers.

Growing up, Dr. Phillips dreamed of being president. She intended to major in history, practice law, and eventually become president of the United States.

“For my era, this was something that was not achievable,” she told C&EN.

Growing up in the segregated South, she was surrounded by civil rights leaders and attorneys, such as Thurgood Marshall, who shaped her early conception of success in the workplace. Science seemed far away and unreachable, but law was a definite route.

She ultimately made her way to Vanderbilt University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1967, making history as the first Black woman to do so.

Being one of the few Black students in her program, Dr. Phillips faced several challenges, such as loneliness and the pressure to succeed in a sometimes unwelcoming environment.

“When I walked into a room, I often felt like I had to be twice as good just to be seen as equal,” she told Science Club for Girls.

Despite these obstacles, she persevered, produced outstanding research, and won the admiration of her classmates and instructors. Later, in 1974, she graduated with a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Cincinnati.

January 17, 2025

For those who would come after her, she laid a strong foundation. She has conducted important studies in analytical chemistry, bioseparation, and viral RNA conformation. Prior to retiring as Director of Strategic Marketing at Waters Corporation, she was employed at Dow Chemical.