Rosemarie Wesson facts for kids

Rosemarie Wesson is an important scientist who works as the Associate Dean of Research at City College of New York. She made history by becoming the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan. Throughout her career, she has worked at major organizations like the National Science Foundation, Louisiana State University, and Dow Chemical Company.

Early Life and Education

Rosemarie Wesson was born in Illinois. She became interested in science and went on to study chemical engineering at the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After finishing her degree, she started working at Dow Chemical Company. There, she was a researcher, studying how different materials flow and change shape.

In 1988, she earned her PhD from the University of Michigan. This was a very special achievement because she was the first African-American woman to get a PhD in chemical engineering from that university. Her research focused on understanding how materials like plastics behave. Later, she returned to the University of Michigan to share her knowledge and received an award for her achievements.

A Career in Science

After getting her PhD, Dr. Wesson went back to Dow Chemical Company. In 1991, she became a professor of chemical engineering at Louisiana State University. She was recognized for her excellent teaching and research there. She also worked as a lead researcher at Battele Memorial Lab and held another senior research position at Dow.

Working at the National Science Foundation

In 2001, Dr. Wesson joined the National Science Foundation (NSF). She spent 13 years there, helping to guide research in areas like chemistry, engineering, and the environment. She focused on making sure that science and engineering could help create a more sustainable world. As a Program Director at NSF, she helped manage research projects for small businesses and universities. These projects looked into energy, tiny technologies called nanotechnology, and new ways to separate chemicals and biological materials. She received special awards from the NSF Director for her teamwork and outstanding work. During this time, she also taught as a professor at the University of Maryland, College Park.

After her time at NSF, Dr. Wesson worked at the Battelle Memorial Institute. There, she helped develop a special device called the Odyssey Atlasphere.

Leadership at City College

In 2015, Dr. Wesson became the dean of research at City College of New York. She is also a respected member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). She has served on their board of directors and received an award in 2014 for her work supporting minority groups in engineering. She also helps the American Society for Engineering Education. In 2018, she made history again by becoming the first woman treasurer of AIChE.

Research Contributions

Dr. Wesson has written many scientific papers. Her research helps us understand how materials like polymers (which are used to make plastics) form and how their structure affects their properties. She also uses computer analysis to study how these materials flow. Her work helps improve many products we use every day.