Catherine Drennan

About Catherine

• As a child, my school struggled to place me at the correct reading level—I seemed very intelligent to my teachers but I had undiagnosed dyslexia and therefore had difficulty reading.
• My mom advocated for me and did a lot of research to get the right diagnosis and support for me.
• I always knew I wanted to go to college and chose Vassar College because I wanted a more liberal and contemporary atmosphere.
• I originally thought I’d either study biopsychology or drama, but I took a chemistry class, fell in love with it, and ended up earning my bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
• After earning my undergraduate degree, I taught high school for three years—I found that I really enjoyed teaching and working with students.
• I earned my Ph.D. in biological chemistry from the University of Michigan.
• I’m currently a professor of biology and chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• In addition to teaching at MIT, I’m a professor and investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.