Greene, Bettye Washington
1935-1995 · Contribution: 1965
Industrial chemist
First African American woman hired as a research chemist at the Dow Chemical Company
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1935, Fort Worth, Texas
- Active since
- 1965
- Category
- Science & Medicine
- Best known for
- First Black woman PhD chemist hired in the chemical industry
Impact on the world
Greene broke the industrial-chemistry color and gender line and contributed research on latex and light scattering that fed innovations in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, paints, and coatings.
Sources
- American Chemical Society (National Historic Chemical Landmark)
1 more sources and references are available to members.
Related visionaries
Daly, Marie Maynard
1921-2003
First African American woman to earn a PhD in chemistry in the United States
Brady, St. Elmo
1884-1966
First African American to earn a PhD in chemistry in the United States; founded chemistry graduate programs at multiple HBCUs
Burks-Houck, Winifred
1950-2004
First woman president of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)
King, Angie Turner
1905-2004
Established American Chemical Society student chapters at multiple HBCUs