There is one (yes, one) Black woman in the world who was involved the discovery of an element in the Periodic Table, and that one woman is Clarice Phelps. Born in Minneapolis, raised in Nashville, Clarice Phelps has been knocking down barriers since day one.  As a student at one of the most academically rigorous high schools in Tennessee, she managed to maintain stellar grades while playing volleyball, studying Tae Kwon Do, performing as first chair in violin, and earning her certification as an Open Water Scuba Diver and Certified Snorkel Instructor.

Clarice continued her academic studies at Tennessee State University, where she was an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, the Chemistry club, and several other civic and academic organizations. After graduating, she returned to the water; this time as a member of the world’s finest Navy. While enlisted she earned the Military Excellence Award and became a Nuclear Engineering Laboratory Technician (one of the most competitive and challenging positions in the Navy). After being promoted to supervisor of all the radioactive instruments and dosimetry services, Clarice was Honorably Discharged, and continued her career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Today, Clarice manages industrial use Isotopes for the Isotope & Fuel Cycle Technology Division at Oak Ridge.

Clarice is not only an exceptional scientist, but an award-winning advocate for diversity and improving access to science. Amongst her honors, she was recognized for her contributions to science by the Young Women's Christian Association with their Tribute to Women Award for Science, Technology, and Innovation as well as being listed on the Periodic Table of Younger Chemists by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) for her contributions to science.  Clarice has lent her knowledge and skills to the Project G.R.A.D. summer institutes, participated in city-wide career days, and chaired the signature youth enrichment program A.S.C.E.N.D. for high school-aged girls and boys. She’s already an in-demand public speaker, with regular invitations to TEDx and other high-profile events.

Whilst she was the first Black woman to contribute to the discovery of an element, she certainly doesn’t want to be the last.  Clarice serves on the board of directors for Yo-STEM (Youth Outreach in STEM), a non-profit organization dedicated to exposing students in underserved communities to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

When she isn’t speaking or working with radioactive isotopes, Clarice loves to read, do arts and crafts projects, ride her bicycle, participate in STEM youth outreach, and spend time with her husband and three children.