Finding Her Voice—and Ours: Bonnie Garmus Sparks Powerful One Book Conversation
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) welcomed Bonnie Garmus, award-winning author of Lessons in Chemistry, for an engaging Compelling Conversations series, held in collaboration with the College’s One Book Program. The event drew students, faculty, staff, and community members into a lively discussion about knowledge, belonging, and the courage to challenge systems that tell us we don’t belong.
The conversation was moderated by Professor Lee Okan, an English faculty member and One Book coordinator, and opened with welcoming remarks from Gianna Kittell, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and Anna Hadenfeldt, a Bunker Hill student. Together, they framed the event around a question that resonates deeply on campus: What happens when you know something—but others refuse to take you seriously?
Garmus reflected on the creation of the protagonist of Lessons in Chemistry, Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist whose expertise is undermined because she is a woman who refuses to conform.
“I wanted to develop a character who only spoke logically and wouldn’t accept rules if they didn’t make sense,” Garmus said. “I needed a new role model—in the world and at work.”
Throughout the conversation, Garmus emphasized that knowledge extends far beyond formal credentials and that lived experience is a powerful form of intelligence. She highlighted how community colleges and mentors help people recognize their potential and claim their place in academic and professional spaces.
The audience asked about mentorship, writing through rejection, critical thinking, and resilience. Garmus encouraged students to seek support, trust their voices, and practice saying no to limitations imposed by others.
“You belong,” she told the audience. “Resilience is built piece by piece, every day.”
On April 21, a prequel panel discussion inspired by Lessons in Chemistry, featuring women faculty and students in STEM, shared their experiences with mentorship. The “Women Defining STEM” event was hosted by the SGA and the One Book Program, with support from the STEM Division and Dean Laura Rubin.
The event concluded with a book signing and informal conversation, serving as a meaningful capstone to a One Book year that sparked dialogue across disciplines and experiences, reminding the BHCC community that courage, curiosity, and persistence are catalysts for change.