April 21, 2005 - April 27, 2005                                                               VOL. 89 NO. Page 10A

     Marnita Sandifer surprised everyone when she received a Ph. D. in chemistry from Case Western Reserve University.
     According to her, no one she knew thought she'd do anything with her life.  After all, Sandifer, 43, graduated Collinwood High School in the lower 22 percent of her class, which she attributes to a lack of motivation.
     "I just did not like school," she told a group of high school girls at Ursuline College's 14th annual Women in Math & Science Day.
     But like many adolescents, her ideas of "making it big" - in her case, as a model - fizzled into a frightening reality when she was hired as a factory assembly worker at General Electric.
     At GE, Sandifer realized factory work was not her destiny, especially after observing how some employees spent 25 to 30 years of their lives performing monotonous tasks.  So, after getting laid-off, she enrolled in Cuyahoga Community College, taking a series of classes until she discovered her calling: chemistry.
     "What I realized after high school graduation was that no one was going to hire me, because I didn't have any skills to market."  But today, Sandifer a scientist and co-owner of A.J.'s Millennium Spa in Beachwood, formulates her own line of skin care products called MarLiz Skin Systems.

      Her life story comes at a pivotal time for high school girls, particularly, those who are discouraged to pursue careers in math and science as a result of recent controversy that says women are less inclined to choose such careers because they are genetically inferior.
     Take for instance, Harvard University President Lawrence Summers' remarks last January, at the National Bureau of Economic Research Conference.  Although the conference was closed to reporters and no transcripts of his speech were prepared several female scientists explained Summers' analysis of the underrepresented number of women in science and scientific achievement as "sexist" and "stereotypical."
     Nevertheless, Sandifer pays such remarks no mind.  While at Ursuline, standing before a group of about 30 girls from Cleveland Lutheran East, Beaumont School and Bedford high School, she said "you have to make a way" for your dreams "and you have to find resources and just do it."
     Students scribbled notes on to the back of scrap paper, placing quotation marks around her words as though they'd become affirmations for her success.
     They also listened to her recommendations for skin care and watched attentively as Sandifer demonstrated a facial on Stephanie Strano, of Beaumont.
     "Our program is really about sparking interest in careers in math and science," said Gerri Sullivan, Ursuline's director of counseling and career services.  "[It's also about] building confidence by letting [students] know they have the aptitude to excel in these areas."
     The program continues to intrigue many students, in part because it offers hand-on sessions with Ursuline faculty and, some say, it provides students with female role models who inspire them to dream.
     Sandifer uses her science as a way to relax and beautify women and men.
     But at times, she doesn't know if people will judge her, despite receiving a bachelor's degree from Baldwin-Wallace College and continuing her education at Case, where she received a master's degree and doctorate in chemistry.
     "I feel unlnerable when I tell my life experience," Sandifer said, sitting inside her offic at the comfy spa that's as quiet as a bay nursery.  "When one looks at me they may judge me before I have said anything."
     However, based on Sandifer's accomplishments, when first meeting her, people are only shocked to discover how reserved and quiet she is.

     Her husband and co-owner of the spa, AJ Othman, appears to be the opposite.  When the spa opened 15 months ago, he says, he approached potential customers, inviting them for a facial, pedicure and/or manicure, and so far it has worked.  They started with no clients and now have 4,900 repeat clients.
     Sandifer's touch-and-go approach to education and opportunities is fuel for future goals of expanding the spa into a franchise and opening a skin care training institute.
     "She really inspired me to work hard and to take my education seriously," said Dorburnell Smith, a ninth-grader at Bedford.
     After all, she is the American dream, pulling herself up by the bootstraps and succeeding at what she does best.  "My life is like the Cinderella story," Sandifer said, "and I haven't gotten to the end yet."

     AJ's Millennium Spa, 3365 Richmond Road, Suite 120 (across from the Moxie), offers massotherapy, body scrubs, pedicures, manicures, make-up services, skin treatments and facials.  The spa's signature Millennium facial is a cleansing, toning skin analysis which offers glycolic/salicylic treatment, facial  scrub, brushing, steam, hand and foot massage with heated mitts and booties, in addition to a facial massage, suction, extractions, mask and moisturizer, according to skin type, and pore cleansing.  To make an appointment, call (216) 593-0271 or visit the spa at www.ajsspamillennium.com

Dr. Marnita Sandifer speaks before a group of girls at Ursuline College's 14th annual Women in Math & Science Day, April 12. (Photo By ERIC BENSON)

Sandifer performs a quick facial on Beaumont student Stephanie Strano.
(Photo By ERIC BENSON)