She joined Dow Corning in 1983 as a researcher and specialist in organosilicon chemistry. In 1994, she became the company’s first director of women’s health. She relocated to Brussels, Belgium in 1997, initially as director of science & technology for Europe and then as director for Dow Corning’s operations in the electronics and life sciences industries. In late 2000, she returned to the United States to become executive vice president of the company, responsible for global operations. A member of Dow Corning’s board of directors since 2001, she was elected president in 2003, was chief executive officer from 2004 until May 2011, and served as its chairman from 2006 through 2011. She holds a Ph.D in organic chemistry from Iowa State University and did post-doctoral studies at the Universite Montpellier, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, France.