Jennie Patrick facts for kids

Jennie Patrick, born in 1949, is an amazing American chemical engineer and teacher. When she was in high school, she helped integrate public schools in Alabama. In 1979, she made history at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She became one of the first African American women in the United States to earn a doctorate degree in traditional chemical engineering.

Jennie Patrick also did important work with a process called supercritical fluid extraction. This is a special way to separate and purify substances. Later in her career, she focused on helping and guiding other African American and female students in science and engineering.

Early Life and School Days

Jennie Patrick was born on January 1, 1949, in Gadsden, Alabama. She was the fourth of five children. Her parents, James and Elizabeth Patrick, believed that getting a good education was the best way to have a better life. They encouraged all their children to study hard. They even bought encyclopedias for their kids, which Jennie loved to read. She also borrowed many books from the local library.

Jennie was a very curious child. She always wanted to understand how things worked. Living in a rural area, she was close to nature. This made her even more curious about why things happened the way they did.

Learning in Segregated Schools

Jennie's first schools were segregated, meaning Black and white students went to separate schools. Even so, her teachers were very supportive. Her fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Anthony Knowledges, taught her advanced math. Her sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Pinkie Bridges, inspired her to believe she could achieve anything.

Integrating Gadsden High School

In 1964, Jennie Patrick was part of a group of African American students who integrated Gadsden City High School. This was the best public school in the city. Jennie knew she wanted to be a chemist, and Gadsden High had the science equipment she needed. This equipment was not available in the local Black schools. She went to the school with one goal: to get the best education possible.

At Gadsden High, Jennie faced many challenges. Some students and teachers treated her unfairly. There were also protesters against integration. She described the first few months as a "living nightmare" because of the emotional and physical challenges. Her parents supported her, even though families of Black students in integrated schools faced threats. Jennie was strong and focused. She graduated with honors in 1967. However, she was not allowed to join the National Honor Society because she was African American.

Higher Education Journey

Jennie Patrick received a scholarship offer to the University of California at Berkeley. This was her dream school. However, her mother wanted her to study closer to home. So, Jennie first attended Tuskegee University (then called Tuskegee Institute) in Alabama on a scholarship. She started studying chemical engineering there.

Challenges at Tuskegee and Berkeley

At Tuskegee, the head of the chemical engineering department was not supportive of her. When that program ended, she transferred to Berkeley. She no longer had a scholarship, so she worked for a year to save money for tuition. She also worked every summer to pay for her studies.

At Berkeley, Jennie was the only African American female undergraduate in chemical engineering. She was also the first African American chemical engineering student there in ten years. Some students and teachers at Berkeley made her feel unwelcome. They even destroyed her work. Despite these difficulties, Jennie learned to be mentally tough and independent. She graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering.

Earning a Doctorate at MIT

After Berkeley, Jennie went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to get her doctorate (Sc.D.) in chemical engineering. She always wanted the highest education possible. MIT was one of the top engineering schools in the country. She found MIT to be a more positive place for Black students in science and engineering.

Jennie was a very dedicated student at MIT, often working seven days a week. She studied important topics like thermodynamics and how liquids change into vapor. Her advisor was Robert C. Reid, a famous scientist. In 1979, she earned her Sc.D. in chemical engineering. She was the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in this field. Her research focused on how much a liquid could be heated above its boiling point without turning into vapor.

Career and Contributions

After graduating from MIT, Jennie Patrick joined the General Electric Research Laboratory in Schenectady, New York. For three and a half years, she worked as a research engineer. She helped create a program for supercritical fluid extraction technology. This is a special high-pressure method for separating and purifying substances. She became one of the few experts in this field in the country.

Leading Research Programs

Later, she led a new, advanced supercritical fluid extraction technology program at the Philip Morris Research Center in Richmond, Virginia. There, she used this technology to extract flavors and essences from tobacco.

In 1985, she became the Manager of Fundamental Chemical Engineering Research at Rohm and Haas in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Besides her work on supercritical fluid extraction, she also worked on polymer science and emulsion technology. She managed a research section for five years, helping to develop new process technologies for their plants.

From 1990 to 1993, she worked as an assistant to the vice president at Southern Company Services in Birmingham, Alabama. During this time, she also taught as a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Georgia Institute of Technology.

Returning to Tuskegee University

In 1993, Jennie Patrick moved from working in industry to teaching at a university. She returned to Tuskegee University as a professor of chemical engineering. She was also the first scientist to hold the 3M Eminent Scholar's Chair at Tuskegee. From 1993 to 1997, she focused on research and helping minority students interested in science and engineering.

At Tuskegee, she created a mentoring program for girls in science. She taught students how to succeed in challenging environments. She even lived in a dorm with honor students she chose to mentor. She wanted to share her experiences and help them prepare for their future.

After leaving Tuskegee in 1997, she worked as a technical consultant and studied how urban children are educated.

Health and Advocacy

During her career in the chemical industry, Jennie Patrick was exposed to many chemicals. This affected her health. After retiring in 2000, she started the Environmental Wellness Institute. Her goal is to teach people about environmental dangers. She also founded Education and Environmental Solutions in Peachtree City, Georgia, where she still works as a consultant.

Awards and Recognition

Jennie Patrick has received many awards for her important work:

• In 1980, she received the Outstanding Women in Science and Engineering Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE).
• She was granted an Honorary Doctor of Science from Tuskegee University in 1984.
• That same year, she received a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
• In 2000, she was awarded the William W. Grimes Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
• In 2008, she received the Black Achievers in Chemical Engineering Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

She is also a member of important organizations like the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Sigma Xi.

Personal Life and Advice

Jennie Patrick found it hard to balance her demanding career with her personal life and family. She always valued her family more than anything else. One reason she moved back to Birmingham, Alabama, was to care for her elderly parents.

Jennie married a doctor who was also a chemical engineer. She describes him as her "very best friend." Since retiring, she enjoys gardening, which she calls her "quiet time" to connect with nature.

She offers great advice to young scientists: "You need to know who you are, you need to be comfortable with yourself, you need to love yourself, and you need to respect yourself. Then everything else becomes secondary. Achieve the highest goals possible but don't allow achievements alone to define who you are. Make the decision early. Don't let material things or world recognition be your driving force."