Ruth Woodall

Ruth serves as Associate Vice President for Education and Workforce Development for the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry and is located in Nashville, TN. She currently leads the Tennessee Scholars for the Chamber.

Ruth graduted from Trimble High School in Trimble, TN in 1971 and attended Union University, Jackson, TN where she received a degree in Chemistry in 1977. She was named Chemistry Alumni of the Year in 2004 at Union. Ruth earned a Master’s degree in 1984 from the University of Memphis where she studied Science Education and Curriculum Design. Ruth completed 45 hours above her Masters. She is a certified Volunteer Manager and Fund Developer. She was given the honor of E. Ann Nalley Volunteer of the year in 2007, ACS Fellow class of 2011, Nashville Section Volunteer of the Year for 2013, and in 2013 was awarded the ACS Helen Free Award for Public Outreach.. As an advocate for chemistry Ruth serves as a Chemistry Ambassador for the ACS.

Prior to joining Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Ruth taught Chemistry in Metro Nashville Public Schools, in Shelby County Schools, and math in Dyer County Schools and Halls High School. She has led groups of students to study Chemistry in Russia and Siberia and Marine Biology and Zoology in New Zealand and Australia through the People to People Youth Science Exchange.

Ruth is currently serving on the Nashville Section of the ACS as councilor, NCW and Earth Day Chair, and Chemistry Ambassador. She serves as chair of the ACS Tennessee Government Affairs Committee. She served the ACS for 19 years on Committee on Community Activities. Beginning in 2014 Ruth will be serving on the Council Committee on Public Affairs. She serves on the Tennessee Science Teachers Board of directors as past president and Exhibits chair, on the State ACT policy council as secretary, on the Women in Science and Industry Champions Board at MTSU, on the Advisory Board of Nashville Singers and Tennessee United Way board. She is a public speaker and an active volunteer for the American Chemical Society as a Chemistry Ambassador and through her work at the Tennessee Chamber and spends numerous hours advocating for STEM education.

Ruth passion is motivating students to prepare early for success after high school. She also teaches the Friendship class at City Road Methodist Church in Madison, TN.