Cornelia Denson Gillyard (born February 1, 1941) is an American organic chemist known for her work with chemicals in the environment.
When she was young, Gillyard was involved with the local 4-H club, singing in the school chorus, cheerleading, and taking part in science fairs.
[1] After graduating from college she realized that she needed more money to pursue higher studies, so she took up a position at the Ohio State University's nuclear medicine laboratory.
In 1964, she got a job setting up and running a new nuclear medicine laboratory at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
[1] She serves on the Women Chemists Committee and the American Chemical Society's Scholars Selection Committee and Blue Ribbon Panel for Minority Affairs, and is a member of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.