2026 Deborah Patterson Award (Broadening Participation in STEM) for the Outstanding St. Louis Scientists Awards
Cynthia Chapple is an innovative scientist, advocate for black girls and women, and a champion of equity.
She therefore founded this organization offering exploration of STEM career pathways through the hands-on engaging curriculum in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to middle and high school black girls to expose them to career pathways and empower them to become STEM professionals. She looks for ways in which she can act as a conduit exposing young black girls to STEM industries and a diversity, equity, and inclusion voice within the STEM workforce space to create welcoming policies, practices, and cultures for Black people and women to thrive. As a founder, she sets strategic focus, foundational policies, practices and culture around the program design and student experience for Black Girls Do STEM. Cynthia’s superpower is leveraging her expertise and power to dream on behalf of Black Innovation.