Rhodes senior Ellie Fratt was an invited speaker at “Breaking Barriers: Supporting Women in STEM” held Nov. 15 in Washington, DC. The event was presented by the B.A. Rudolph Foundation that supports women in STEM and public service through financial assistance and mentorship.
As a former recipient of the foundation’s STEM scholarship, Fratt had the honor of introducing the keynote speaker, Dr. Dava Newman, former deputy administrator of NASA. Funds raised from the event will benefit 2018 STEM scholars.
“Standing on a stage across the street from The White House introducing one of the most prolific and inspiring women in STEM was not something that I ever envisioned myself doing,” says Fratt, who stays in contact with the B.A. Rudolph Foundation year round. “What has really stood out, however, is how close I’ve gotten with all of the scholars and board members throughout the past two years. Although the scholarship is important, the network and family that we gain is what really makes the foundation so special.”
At Rhodes, Fratt is a neuroscience major and chemistry and religious studies double minor, and her scholarship supported an internship in the Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She also is published as third author in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry for part of the research conducted at St. Jude.
“Last spring, I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, and researched part time at the Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance,” adds Fratt. “This summer, I worked at Boston Children’s Hospital in the Department of Hematology/Oncology, which I absolutely loved.”
Fratt also serves as a mentor for the B.A. Rudolph Foundation for one of their 2017 STEM Scholarship recipients. She currently is working as a teaching assistant in Rhodes’ Department of Biology and training for a half marathon for St. Jude.