Woman in STEM: Tessa Porter

We’re just getting started,” said Tessa Porter, a candy scientist and the founder of both Sprinkk and Norma’s Handcrafted Snacks.

As someone who grew up in Albion, Neb. loving math and science, Porter knew she wanted a STEM career. She enjoyed messing around in the kitchen and said she wanted to be a “food inventor.” She went through high school with that plan in mind, so when college came around, she ended up in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s culinary department. She was sure this was where she was meant to be, but the faculty told her the food science department would be a better fit.

“I got there and that’s when all the stars aligned,” said Porter.