University of Georgia
UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences CAES Signature Event D.W. Brooks Lecture and Awards
Menu
Close
Search

Brittnee L. Thirkield

Date Honored: 11/04/2014
Portrait of Brittnee L. Thirkield

2014 D.W. Brooks Diversity Award - Graduate Student

Department: Food Science and Technology

Brittnee L. Thirkield was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, by Gloria and Rickie Thirkield, who instilled the importance of family and education into Brittnee and her older sister, Stefanie, at very early ages. A proud graduate of Hardaway High School, an International Baccalaureate school, Brittnee obtained a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Atlanta's Spelman College, a school ranked first on the list of "Historically Black Colleges and Universities" by U.S. News & World Report.

While at Spelman, the late Dr. Gladys S. Bayse and the chemistry department mentored Brittnee as she sharpened her scientific research skills. Personal interest in food and analytical biochemistry led Brittnee to the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Georgia. Under the direction of Dr. Louise Wicker, Brittnee studies the structure-function relationship of sugar beet pectin and enjoys participating in UGA-sponsored organizations, including the Food Science Club, Graduate and Professional Scholars, and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.

 

Additional resources