Cynthia Chapple

Cynthia Chapple is an American research chemist and non-profit executive. Chapple is the founder and managing director of Black Girls Do STEM. This program was created with a mission to increase curiosity through deliberate education access and opportunities in science, engineering, and mathematics.

Early life and education Chapple grew up in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois with her parents and seven siblings. At fifteen she was accepted into a biology program at Purdue University. Chapple earned her Bachelors of Science in Forensic and Investigative Science, as well as a Bachelors of Art in Chemistry.

She earned her Masters degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in chemistry. While pursuing her education, Chapple faced racism and isolation for being a black woman. According to a report from 2022, Black Girls Do STEM has reached more than sixty local girls, seven different school districts, and thirteen community partners, and been the receiver of three grant funders. As Black Girls Do STEM has grown over the years, Chapple has been able to recruit many mentors to join her team. All of these mentors are in the field of STEM, and Chapple uses this fact to introduce different areas of STEM to the girls.