Tova Williams Cherry

Bio

Dr. Tova N. Williams Cherry is the Principal Investigator of The Sustainable Dye Chemistry Laboratory, where she leads research at the intersection of color (dye) chemistry, materials science, and sustainable technologies. Her lab bridges fundamental and applied research, with a focus on structure–property relationships and dye–material interactions using both synthetic and bio-based dyes. Her work is driven by a mission to design colorants and coloration systems that are not only chemically innovative, but also safer and more compatible with environmental and human health considerations. Find out more about her laboratory’s research here.

Her journey into dye chemistry began around age 14, in the laundry room of her parents’ home, where she became fascinated by how color transformed her mother’s hair. At the time, she was routinely applying permanent hair dyes to her mother’s hair—unaware that these same dyes are among the most toxicologically concerning. It wasn’t until her undergraduate studies in Polymer and Color Chemistry at NC State that she learned about the health and environmental risks associated with these compounds. That realization solidified her resolve to pursue a career in green chemistry, reimagining the design of colorants to make them safer for consumers, stylists, and manufacturers alike.

Dr. Williams Cherry is a double alumna of NC State University (Wilson College of Textiles), earning her Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science (with a Chemistry minor) in 2018 and her B.S. in Polymer and Color Chemistry in 2014. Her doctoral research, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Harold S. Freeman, focused on the development of more sustainable permanent hair dyes. As a 2015 NSF Graduate Research Fellow, she co-developed the first publicly available hair dye substance chemical database (300+ compounds), advancing data-driven dye design.

Her professional background includes research roles at American & Efird and Cotton Incorporated, a visiting research appointment at Ashland Specialty Ingredients (Materials Science Division), and sales experience at Tokyo Chemical Industry. Across all these settings, she applied core principles of chemistry to solve complex, real-world problems.

Outside of the lab, Dr. Williams Cherry is a passionate educator and mentor. Inspired by her hardworking parents, David and Calamity (Jean) Williams, and by educators like her high school chemistry teacher Carolyn Davila, she is committed to broadening participation in STEM through outreach and inclusive mentorship.

In her free time, she enjoys DIY projects, interior design, biking, cooking, and traveling. Whether developing novel dyes or mentoring future scientists, Dr. Williams Cherry brings creativity, clarity, and purpose to everything she does.

Website: https://go.ncsu.edu/susdyechemlab
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tovanwilliams
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chemist2dye4
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chemist2dye4
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4284-3068

Area(s) of Expertise

Dyeing and finishing
Textile chemistry
Hair dyeing
Environmental/green chemistry
Cheminformatics