Burks-Houck, Winifred
1950-2004 · Contribution: 1993-2001
First woman president of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
Led NOBCChE for eight years, building partnerships with the American Chemical Society, AAAS, and NASA, and was honored posthumously with an annual lecture series recognizing achievement and leadership among Black scientists and students.
Life & background
An environmental organic chemist who earned her bachelor's degree at Dillard University and her master's at Atlanta University, Burks-Houck worked for years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory analyzing environmental hazards and ensuring worker safety. She became the first woman president of NOBCChE, serving from 1993 to 2001 and building partnerships across major scientific organizations; after her death, NOBCChE established the Winifred Burks-Houck Professional Leadership Lecture, Awards, and Symposium in her honor.
Sources
- C&EN (9 Black Chemists You Should Know About); NOBCChE official history
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