Mallory Adele Butts is a high-achieving recent graduate of Greater Atlanta Christian School (GACS - Norcross, GA), succeeding academically as an AP/honors student. In addition to membership in The National Honor Society, National Beta Club, and National Spanish Honor Society, she served as founding president of Culture Club (her school’s first social justice club), varsity basketball cheer squad captain, and yearbook chief graphic designer.
In 2019, Mallory studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador and The Galápagos Islands. Beyond experiencing cultural enrichment (through food, dance, and music) and conducting research at The Charles Darwin Research Center, Mallory distributed backpacks of school supplies to underprivileged children in the poverty-stricken town of Otavalo.
Her commitment to service is longstanding. Since joining The Stone Mountain Chapter of Jack and Jill of America in 2013, where she was the Senior Teens Corresponding Secretary, Mallory has participated in cleaning playgrounds, renovating daycare centers, painting elementary schools, and donating food to people experiencing housing insecurity. To date, she has amassed over 1,000 service hours. This fall, Mallory will study chemical engineering and minor in Spanish at Spelman College, towards her goal of becoming a global cosmetics industry chemical engineer, ensuring products are equitably safe and designed for people of color, worldwide.
FOSSI: Why are you passionate about pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field?
Mallory: Skin health is my passion, so I formulate natural, healthy skincare products and educate minorities on safe ingredients.
My cause will continue in college and beyond — to raise awareness and advocate against injustices within underprivileged communities, especially related to health inequities.
I am committed to creating safer alternatives for women of color and bringing greater attention to existing injustices by advocating for policies that demand improved safety standards and transparency about the relationship between women’s health and dangerous chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products. These collective passions informed my decision to major in chemistry and chemical engineering for advancing my knowledge in cosmetics sciences and to combat skin health disparities.
FOSSI: Why is receiving the FOSSI scholarship important for you?
Mallory: This award will support my college education in chemical engineering to advance my knowledge of diverse skincare needs, as an investment in health justice. I seek to decrease health disparities by improving skin care in minority communities; this scholarship will further me towards my goal for global cosmetics equality. As a chemical engineer, I will create novel formulations of safe and effective products to ensure underrepresented communities no longer go unnoticed or untreated.
FOSSI: Share a few fun facts about yourself.
- I have two siblings and a dog (she is a Shitzu and Poodle mix).
- I can wiggle my ears.
- I danced ballet for 15 years.
- My eyes change colors.
- I was an extra in a movie on Netflix.
- I enjoy cooking for my family :)