Chemistry and Compassion

Book excerpt: Amy Le Vesconte was born at the end of the nineteenth century but exemplified the modern teacher and woman scientist of the twenty-first century. She earned her PhD in chemistry in 1931 and devoted the next four decades to teaching chemistry to young college women at Mary Hardin-Baylor College in Belton, Texas and two other womens colleges. She imbued her teaching with humor, fun, and creativity that helped overcome the students fear of science. Fun loving and adventuresome, she caught the travel bug when she took a road trip with three other women from Minnesota to Philadelphia in 1926 in a Model T Ford. After that, whenever possible, she traveled around the country and around the world, often keeping a diary. Her accounts of Taiwan (formerly Formosa) and Japan in the years prior to the outbreak of World War II are especially interesting. Deeply grounded in her faith, she lived a life of service, giving generously of her attention and love to nurture young people wherever she saw the need. She was especially caring of international students. Although she never married, she enjoyed a large family of adoring former students around the world, who faithfully kept in touch with her over the years.