Bridgette Shannon facts for kids

Bridgette Renee Shannon is an amazing African-American chemist. She works as a research scientist at a big company called 3M. Dr. Shannon made history as the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in chemistry from the University of Arkansas. Today, she leads a group called NOBCChE. This group helps Black chemists and engineers succeed.

Growing Up and School

Bridgette Shannon grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her neighborhood was close to the famous Central High School. She became very interested in chemistry while at J.A. Fair High School.

Even though some friends tried to tell her not to study chemistry, she loved learning how things work. She was very curious! Bridgette especially liked medical science and research.

During her summer breaks, she went to science camps at UAMS. These camps helped her decide to study science in college. In 2002, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Henderson State University.

Becoming a Doctor of Chemistry

In 2003, Bridgette went to the University of Arkansas for more studies. She worked on her PhD in inorganic chemistry. She finished her degree in 2007.

Her research was about making tiny particles called quantum dots. These dots could be used in medicine. She was the first African-American woman to get a PhD in chemistry from that university.

What a Chemist Does

Before her PhD, in 2002, Bridgette worked at a L’Oreal makeup factory. She was a chemist checking the quality of lipsticks. This was her first job in the chemistry world!

Working at Big Companies

In 2008, she moved to New York to work for Corning Incorporated. She was a senior research scientist there. She helped create special materials for car parts. These materials clean up harmful gases from car exhausts.

In 2012, she worked on developing special kinds of glass. She left Corning a year later.

In 2014, Bridgette joined 3M in Minnesota. She became a product developer. She worked with teams around the world. Her job was to design and create special sandpaper-like products. These products help businesses reach their goals.

In 2017, she became an Application Engineer at 3M. She helped customers figure out what they needed. She then turned those needs into plans for new products.

Since early 2022, Bridgette works in the Transportation and Electronics group at 3M. She helps find new ways for the company to grow. She also leads marketing for advanced materials.

Awards and Recognition

Bridgette Shannon has received many awards and honors. In 2011, she was named a Modern Day Technology Leader. This was part of a program for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

She has been featured in magazines like Fast Company and Essence. She also appeared on PBS in a show called “SciGirls”. This show highlights "Real Women. Real Jobs. Making a real difference."

In her "SciGirls" episode, she shared how she overcame challenges. She talked about finding success and joy in a job where not many women work. She also showed kids how air works in another PBS series called “Hands on Science.”

Bridgette has also been part of 3M videos. She shared her life as a working mom and scientist. She wants to show that scientists are friendly and approachable. She has also been featured on websites like FairyGodboss and Refinery 29. She shares tips for working moms.

In 2021, she was chosen to be the president-elect of NOBCChE. She is now serving as president from 2023 to 2025.

• Modern Day Technology Leader (BEYA) - Black Engineer of the Year Awards
• Feature - “Power Players” - Essence Magazine
• Feature - “Most Creative People” - Fast Company Magazine
• Young Alumni Award - University of Arkansas (BAS)
• Little Rock Mayor and Board of Director’s Award
• Distinguished Alumni Award - Henderson State University
• TPT Originals - “SciGirls Role Models” – video series
• Elected “Midwest Regional Chair” - NOBCChE
• Digital Media Feature - Fairygodboss
• 3M State of Science Index - “Beyond the Beaker” – video series
• Digital Media Feature - Refinery 29
• PBS - “Hands- on Science”, The Atmosphere is Here – video series
• Elected President - NOBCChE