Women in Science - Online Interviews

Maude Taylor McGraw

1. Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.

My name is Maude Taylor McGraw. I am the corporate safety director at Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. My job is very diverse which is why I enjoy it. There are no typical days for me. Some of my responsibilities include: emergency response planning and execution for over 300 employees when fire, chemical releases or severe weather threatens; traveling to customer sites such as paper mills, leather tanneries and wood mill operations when safety questions arise about our chemicals as well as to present safe handling procedures; safety audits to ensure our locations meet or exceed our standards at nine manufacturing locations which include 2 locations in USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, South Africa, Singapore and Australia; and incident investigation as well as promoting prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses.

2. How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?

My story is different because I knew what I wanted to be by the time I was in the 7th grade. I was always an avid reader and many times I would read all the labels on the shampoo, food and anything else within view. I loved math and science and wondered how these chemicals with names I could not pronounce could possibly be used in everyday products. I made the distinction between chemistry and chemical engineering because I was not good at memory work, but I was good at logic conclusions. In chemistry classes, I wanted to make everything work logically, but many principles must be accepted. In chemical engineering classes, all questions can be logically explained. I prepared by taking all the math and science classes available.

3. What is the best thing about your job?

I like the challenge of always working on a new project.

4. What do you like the least?

I least like the follow-up on some of the mundane tasks, but I know this is also very important.

5. As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?

As I stated earlier, I loved to read. I think college primarily cultivates the ability to think with an open mind. Mystery books are excellent to sharpen your problem-solving skills. When I worked as a summer student at a chemical company, I realized that I was on the right track by choosing chemical engineering.

6. Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?

I think there were many people that influenced me to pursue this field. My parents were and remain my main mentors. They are not chemical engineers, but they encouraged me never to give up my dream from seventh grade. A student, Kaye Johnson, was majoring in engineering and she was the first women engineering student that I knew. I was so impressed with her abilities and personality that it served as confirmation that I had made the right decision.

7. What is your favorite quote?

This quote has been with me from high school.
"If you build castles in the air your work need not be lost; there is where they should be. Now put foundations under them."
Henry David Thoreau

8. What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?

Remain focused. Never be discouraged or doubt your abilities. Grades are important, but do not be limited by them. Challenge yourself by explaining the material to a classmate. It you truly know it, they will understand. If not, you do not know the material. Many exceptional students start college, but few finish college. The reason? No study skills. There will be subjects in college that are not easy. If you do not know how to study, you can't survive. If you are a student who has never had to study, LEARN HOW. It will make the difference between who you are and who you can be.

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1.	Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.
	My name is Maude Taylor McGraw. I am the corporate safety director at Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. My job is very diverse which is why I enjoy it. There are no typical days for me. Some of my responsibilities include: emergency response planning and execution for over 300 employees when fire, chemical releases or severe weather threatens; traveling to customer sites such as paper mills, leather tanneries and wood mill operations when safety questions arise about our chemicals as well as to present safe handling procedures; safety audits to ensure our locations meet or exceed our standards at nine manufacturing locations which include 2 locations in USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, South Africa, Singapore and Australia; and incident investigation as well as promoting prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses.
2.	How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?
	My story is different because I knew what I wanted to be by the time I was in the 7th grade. I was always an avid reader and many times I would read all the labels on the shampoo, food and anything else within view. I loved math and science and wondered how these chemicals with names I could not pronounce could possibly be used in everyday products. I made the distinction between chemistry and chemical engineering because I was not good at memory work, but I was good at logic conclusions. In chemistry classes, I wanted to make everything work logically, but many principles must be accepted. In chemical engineering classes, all questions can be logically explained. I prepared by taking all the math and science classes available.
3.	What is the best thing about your job?
	I like the challenge of always working on a new project.
4.	What do you like the least?
	I least like the follow-up on some of the mundane tasks, but I know this is also very important.
5.	As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?
	As I stated earlier, I loved to read. I think college primarily cultivates the ability to think with an open mind. Mystery books are excellent to sharpen your problem-solving skills. When I worked as a summer student at a chemical company, I realized that I was on the right track by choosing chemical engineering.
6.	Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?
	I think there were many people that influenced me to pursue this field. My parents were and remain my main mentors. They are not chemical engineers, but they encouraged me never to give up my dream from seventh grade. A student, Kaye Johnson, was majoring in engineering and she was the first women engineering student that I knew. I was so impressed with her abilities and personality that it served as confirmation that I had made the right decision.
7.	What is your favorite quote?
	This quote has been with me from high school. "If you build castles in the air your work need not be lost; there is where they should be. Now put foundations under them." Henry David Thoreau
8.	What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?
	Remain focused. Never be discouraged or doubt your abilities. Grades are important, but do not be limited by them. Challenge yourself by explaining the material to a classmate. It you truly know it, they will understand. If not, you do not know the material. Many exceptional students start college, but few finish college. The reason? No study skills. There will be subjects in college that are not easy. If you do not know how to study, you can't survive. If you are a student who has never had to study, LEARN HOW. It will make the difference between who you are and who you can be.