Dr. Jessie Markert Rivers, ’71, presented to faculty, staff, students, and fellow 1971 classmates on March 2 in Kresge Auditorium. The talk was about Rivers’ education journey at Meredith and NC State, and her career as a chemist.
Rivers currently works as a chemist at JLA Laboratories, a food testing contract service, in Edenton, N.C., where she has served the organization for almost 30 years. She works with different agricultural commodities, including peanuts and cocoa products. Rivers shared the principles and values of the 13 JLA labs spread across the southeast. Her favorite is the seventh principle – to have fun.
Rivers grew up in Coinjock, N.C., where her father and grandfather were farmers. She was in 4-H and raised and showed calves, and feels to this day that it was a wonderful experience. She went to Joseph P. Knapp High School, graduating as salutatorian. After graduation, she decided to attend Meredith because her best friend was a sophomore here.
She chose home economics as her major during her sophomore year, and at that time, she had to take an organic chemistry class. The class taught the students the terms for food ingredients and the descriptions of the chemicals.
“My professor was Dr. Mary Yarbrough, and she saw something in me that I didn’t know was there,” said Rivers. “She counseled me, mentored me to change my major to chemistry in my junior year.”
Yarbrough, who graduated from Meredith in 1926 with degrees in chemistry and mathematics, became the first woman to receive a graduate degree from NC State in 1927.
During her time at Meredith, Rivers was inducted into the Kappa Nu Sigma Honor Society, which recognizes students for their academic achievement, leadership, and character. She was also the President of the Barber Science Club and the secretary of her sophomore class.
After graduating, Rivers got married and settled in Sanford. Facing limited job opportunities, she enrolled at a nearby community college to take additional courses she needed for graduate studies. Though Rivers struggled in a physical chemistry course, her professor later recognized the dedication she showed while working in the labs and the strong performance she demonstrated in organic chemistry.
Ultimately, Rivers chose to continue her education at NC State University.
“I want you to know, despite all the good things you do, you’re going to come up against obstacles, and you will feel like you have failed,” Rivers explained. “Those kinds of things can happen to you either in your personal life, in your educational life, or even in your job. They hurt, but you’ve got to pick yourself up and move on.”
It took Rivers five years to complete her Ph.D. in organic chemistry at NC State University. After earning her degree, she expected to work for a pharmaceutical company, but job opportunities were scarce at the time. She eventually accepted a position with R.J. Reynolds in Winston-Salem. Rivers worked there for 15 years and raised two children during that time. After her divorce, she moved to Edenton and took a laboratory job at Avoca Farms. Later, she decided to try teaching high school chemistry, but after three months, she returned to laboratory work, joining PERT Laboratories, now JLA Labs. She plans to retire this year.
“I want to stress, particularly to the students–look around you and find people who can coach you, guide you, and inspire you to do different things.”
The lecture was sponsored by the Meredith College Chapter of the American Chemical Society, Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society, STEM Scholars, the Office of Career Planning, and the School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.
Melyssa Allen – News Director
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