Lynika Strozier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lynika Strozier
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Strozier in 2011
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| Born | August 28, 1984 |
| Died | June 7, 2020 (aged 35) |
| Occupation | Biology lab technician, lecturer |
Lynika Strozier (born August 28, 1984 – died June 7, 2020) was an amazing American researcher and scientist. She sadly passed away from COVID-19 in June 2020, during the time when the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting many people in Illinois.
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Lynika's Early Life and Challenges
Lynika Strozier was born in Birmingham, Alabama. When she was very young, she moved to Chicago with her mother. From the age of six, her grandmother lovingly raised her.
When Lynika was eight, she was diagnosed with a learning disability. This made reading and math very difficult for her. For example, when she read aloud, it was often slow and halting.
Doctors even suggested that Lynika might need social assistance for her whole life. But her grandmother believed in her. She knew Lynika could overcome her difficulties with hard work and support.
Her Journey in Education
After high school, Lynika received a scholarship to the University of Northern Iowa. However, she struggled there and returned to Chicago. She then enrolled at Truman College.
At Truman College, a special mentor named Dr. Yvonne Harris encouraged Lynika to explore science. This was a big step, especially with her learning disability. Lynika found creative ways to learn.
For math, she did all her calculations by hand on paper. This helped her truly understand the numbers. Dr. Harris also noticed Lynika was a visual thinker. She encouraged Lynika to draw pictures and diagrams first. These drawings then became outlines for her written work.
Working at the Field Museum
Lynika started as a student intern at Chicago's famous Field Museum of Natural History. Here, she discovered she had a natural talent for lab work. One of her supervisors even said she had "golden hands." This meant she was incredibly skilled at getting DNA from tiny or tricky biological samples.
While working at the Field Museum, Lynika continued her studies. She earned an associate degree from Truman College. Then, she completed a Bachelor of Science degree at Dominican University. She went on to earn two master's degrees, one from Loyola University Chicago and another from the University of Illinois Chicago.
A Dream Job and Legacy
Lynika spent most of her science career at the Field Museum. She also worked at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's science lab. In 2019, she started her dream job as a professor at Malcolm X College.
In March 2020, the Field Museum honored Lynika. They gave her the special role of Collections Associate. This recognized her important contributions to science.
Sadly, Lynika Strozier passed away from COVID-19 in June 2020. After her death, supporters started a GoFundMe campaign. They raised money to create a scholarship in her name. This scholarship helps young African-American women who want to study science.
