Marquita M. Qualls is a Researcher in Pharmaceutical Development at GlaxoSmithKline. Dr. Qualls holds a BS degree in Chemistry from Tennessee State University and a PhD in Chemistry from Purdue University. Her thesis work focused on the development of novel lipid carriers and their therapeutic applications

Dr. Qualls is the immediate Past President of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). She is an active member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), where she currently serves on an implementation team of the ACS Board Oversight Group on Leadership Development.

Dr. Qualls devotes time to developing relationships with leaders of other professional organizations, academic departments or universities, and governmental agencies that have an interest in increasing the representation of minorities in the nation's technical workforce. She also delivers motivational speeches to students about her chosen career path and has served on numerous panels discussing strategies of increasing the number of women and under-represented minorities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers.