December 12, 2025

A typical chemistry lab smells like a blend of solvents and chemicals—acetone, esters, or carboxylic acids. But at the end of the spring term, the weekly Science Workshop, a forum for recent student and faculty research presentations, took an entirely different approach to Chemistry. 

Joyce Church, the housekeeper in the Dickinson Science Building, is famous for sharing her delicious homemade baked goods with the Dickinson community. Together with her treats, Church’s genuine warmth and care for students make the building feel more like home to many students, especially those who are far from home. 

“The past four years at Bennington have been hectic, eventful, and full of change—but through it all, Joyce has been a steady presence for me,” said Azlin Altamirano ’25, a Biology student from Tucson, Arizona, who took most of her classes in Dickinson. “While her delicious baked goods are certainly a highlight, what stands out most about Joyce is who she is: resilient, funny, fierce, and full of heart. I always looked forward to our conversations and discovering what she was up to next.” 

Church teamed up with faculty member in Chemistry Fortune Ononiwu to reveal the chemical mysteries behind her delectable Banana Mocha Cake, a student favorite. With plenty of good humor peppered in, Church demonstrated how she mixes the recipe and pours it into a pan before slipping it into a small oven brought to the lab for the occasion. 

While the cake baked—and spilled its delicious aroma into the capacity crowd—Ononiwu used diagrams of the chemical structures of each ingredient to reveal the interactions happening in the oven. Attendees learned about the effect of sugar on crumb structure and browning, the chemical differences between saturated and unsaturated fats, and the reason the batter bubbled when Church added the vinegar. 

“It’s hard to think of anyone at Dickinson who hasn’t been touched by Joyce’s warmth and generosity. She supports students not just with her time and attention, but also with her delicious baked goods, creative trivia, and traditions like the Easter egg hunt, all of which contribute to the unique culture of Dickinson,” said Ononiwu. “This workshop perfectly exemplified what I think of as the Bennington way of education. Everyone is integral to the learning culture we curate here.”

“I’ll always remember her as someone who made Dickinson feel like home and a cherished part of my life in Vermont,” said Altamirano. 

While the chemical reactions behind Church’s Banana Mocha Cake were revealed during the Science Workshop, how it reaches its off-the-charts level of yumminess remains a mystery.