She received her BA in geology from SFSU and her PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz. As a micropaleontologist who specializes in diatoms, she is engaged in research on biosiliceous sediments around the Pacific Rim. At SFSU she teaches classes in paleontology, historical geology, and oceanography. Dr. White has distinguished herself equally as a teacher, researcher and mentor, and together with the National Association of Black Geologists and Geophysicists, she is active in efforts to diversity the geosciences through education and outreach.