On September 8th several members of FOCUS had the opportunity to have lunch with Dr. Mridula Nair, and OSU Chemistry PhD Alumni. Dr. Nair is an integral member of Eastman Kodak for over 40 years and holds 145 US granted patents! Not only is she a successful chemist, she also is a huge advocate for gender equality in STEM. Dr. Nair mentors young women and helps economically and socially disadvantaged students continue into higher education. During lunch, we learned more about Dr. Nair’s transition from graduate school into industry, and how she has navigated working in a primarily male-dominated field. Dr. Nair emphasized how important it is to support and uplift women and underrepresented groups in science and to give back to the community.