A generation ago, girls were steered toward “soft” careers in teaching, nursing and parenting. Dolores Ennico paid little heed, however, following her passion for math and science.

That passion earned her a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a master’s degree in biochemistry from Southern Connecticut State University, and began her lengthy and varied career with Olin Corporation. She began as a research technician in the company’s New Haven office, soon becoming a lab manager and realizing she had a knack for management. “Developing a work plan, having larger objectives and making things happen was really rewarding,” Ennico recalls.

She enrolled in the MBA program at UNH and eventually became manager of human resources for the Olin’s Chemicals Research and Development Center in New Haven. Ennico laughs, “When they asked me to take the position, I said, ‘I don’t know HR, but I know R & D,’ and they said, ‘You’re smart. You’ll learn it.’”

Evidently, she did. Today Ennico is vice president of human resources at Olin Corporation’s headquarters in St. Louis. Last year she was elected an officer of Olin and currently directs the human resource activities for 3,800 employees.

Ennico maintains an active volunteer life as well. She has served on many non-profit boards, giving back to the communities in which she has lived and worked. She is a member of the Connecticut Women’s Forum and the International Women’s Forum, and serves on the board of Lewis and Clark Community College and the United Way in St. Louis.

Ennico advises students to learn everything they can, noting that she still draws on all of the classes she’s taken. “You never know where that bit of knowledge will lead you,” she says, “so never stop learning.”

Posted Spring 2011