Cornelia Gillyard

Cornelia Denson Gillyard (born February 1, 1941) is an American organic chemist known for her work with chemicals in the environment.

Early life and education The eldest of three children, Gillyard was born on February 1, 1941, in Talladega, Alabama to a steel worker and a nurse. When she was young, Gillyard was involved with the local 4-H club, singing in the school chorus, cheerleading, and taking part in science fairs. At one such fair Gillyard and her partner won a prize for a wooden replica they made of a human skeleton. While in high school, Gillyard became very interested in chemistry. After graduating as valedictorian, she received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Talladega College. Her senior project bridged chemistry and human health as she studied nuts and their nutrient contents as related to human growth.

Career and research Gillyard's research focuses on organoarsenic chemistry as well as pollutants and toxins in the environment. One of Gillyard's research focuses was on microbes and their potential for use in cleaning up environments polluted by contaminants like arsenic.

She serves on the Women Chemists Committee and the American Chemical Society's Scholars Selection Committee and Blue Ribbon Panel for Minority Affairs, and is a member of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. She was the director of NASA's Women in Science and Engineering Scholars Program and the codirector of the National Science Foundation's Research in Chemistry for Minority Scholars Program.