Despite decades of experience in Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Glynis Boone feels there is always more to discover. 

Glynis is the Environmental Safety, Health, Security, and Sustainability Manager at Evonik Corp. She brings not only technical, industry, and professional expertise to EEE but also a unique perspective. Despite her current success, Glynis’s journey has been anything but typical.

The “20-Year Plan”

Glynis “was on the 20-year plan,” as she likes to say.

Her educational journey began here in Tippecanoe County as a bright, curious, straight-A high school student – until she took a chemistry course. “I was almost failing chemistry,” she admits. “I was getting a D at one point, and I thought, I can’t, this is unacceptable. So, I started going to office hours, studying a lot more, and once I started to get it, I really liked it a lot.”

After high school, Glynis had many jobs, opportunities, and life changes, including studying in England. Eventually, she enrolled at California State University – San Bernardino in Biochemistry. However, a year later, Glynis found herself back in Indiana as a single mom of two young children.

“It became very difficult because I had to work full time. I attempted a couple times to come back to school at Purdue. I would just take one class at a time, even though I knew it was going to take forever,” Glynis shares.

Before finishing her degree, Glynis worked in various positions in chemistry and lab management, eventually accepting a job with the City of West Lafayette at their wastewater treatment plant; her first taste of environmental engineering.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would go down this path. I was just thinking, they're going to pay me more money. I need to feed my kids,” Glynis admits. “Then, I realized what environmental engineering was. It touched on everything. It had chemical, physical, biological, thermodynamics, engineering… it was just fascinating! It is far more dynamic and complicated than people would imagine.”

It wasn’t until 2008 that Glynis was able to return to Purdue full-time, and in 2011, she finally graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

“That was a really special day. My oldest daughter graduated in the morning with the School of Liberal Arts at Purdue, and I graduated in the afternoon with School of Science,” Glynis says. Since then, two more of her daughters have graduated from Purdue.

Glynis and her daughter on graduation day!

The EEE Connection

Soon after her graduation, Glynis moved up at Evonik into her first department manager position. Around this time, Purdue’s Environmental and Ecological Engineering unit was forming. After hiring her first EEE intern in 2013, Glynis was thoroughly impressed and primarily looked for EEE interns.

“EEE students are so well rounded. You can't be every kind of engineer, but those who understand the basics in multiple engineering disciplines can often develop better solutions in their own area,” Glynis shares.

Over the years, Glynis has sought ways to be involved with Purdue EEE. When a vacancy opened on the EEE EAC last year, Glynis was ready for the offer.

“It just happened to be the right time, and I am honored! I’m a big supporter of Environmental and Ecological Engineering and all that they do. I am excited to see what we will do next,” Glynis says.

The Message Behind the Madness

Glynis brings so much more than simply technical, industry, and professional experience to EEE. She brings the message she discovered amidst the madness of life:

“If you're not sure about where you are at, it’s okay. It is in your power to decide what you're going to do and what your passions are. My path, though slow and unexpected, it led me to where I am. Some students are going to champion the path that they're on with EEE, and others are still trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. That’s where I am! I am still trying to figure that out. Just remember, you are at the beginning, not the end. It's in your ability to take what you learn and use it. How you use it though, that’s for you to determine.”

Glynis with another one of her daughters have fun at the "Unfinished P."