Rosemary Gray, an interview by Anne Peterson, 7 September 2011

Transcript (26 pages) of an interview by Anne Peterson with Rosemary Gray on 7 September 2011. Part of the University Oral History Project, Everett Cooley Collection tape no. U-3076

Rosemary Gray was born in Tynemouth on the northeast corner of England. Her parents, who were avid bird watchers, spent a lot of time gardening and taking her and her brother out into the nature of northern England. This is where she developed a passion for science and nature. Rosemary´s family then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio when she was nine, then moved back to England for two years, then back to Cincinnati for two years, and then to Mexico City. She attended high school in Cincinnati and Mexico City. In Ohio she had a great biology teacher who facilitated her skills as a blossoming biologist.She earned her Masters in biology at Texas A and M and went to the University of North Carolina to finish her PhD. She worked as a researcher and taught in a minority advancement program. After she had her first child, Rosemary decided she would be able to raise her daughter more easily if she were a teacher because research takes up so much time. She took a job at the University of Utah, and her family moved to Utah. She was hired to be the director of the Bioscience Undergraduate Research Program, but because of another teacher´s accident she was asked to teach biology for the ACCESS Program.The ACCESS Program is a seven week program during the summer designed to help gifted high school girls transition from high school to university. Rosemary loves being able to watch these students develop from high school through their first year of college. She´s able to give them advice about classes, careers, and help them decide what path they want to take.It´s important for Rosemary to help young women have access to scientific study because she believes there is less opportunity for women than for men. This has changed since she started, but there is still work to be done to allow young women more opportunity to have careers in the sciences. She feels she is doing her part to bring about that equality for women. Rosemary describes the details of the ACCESS Program - what the students do, the benefits it creates for their future, the networking and job opportunities it presents young women. It guides students through university and beyond: students learn to apply for jobs and how to write personal statements and resumes, etc. She provides examples of what students have researched and what they´ve gone on to do after taking part in the ACCESS Program. Project: University Oral History Project. Interviewer: Anne Peterson.