Dr. Atkinson earned her B.A. in chemistry and medieval/renaissance studies from Wellesley College and her doctoral degree in chemistry from Northeastern University. She has prior teaching experience at Northeastern's University College (now the College of Professional Studies) and Boston College. Dr. Atkinson serves as the liaison for BHCC's Science and Engineering Deparment for various outside research opportunities for BHCC students, including at Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Wellesley College. She also developed (and teaches) the department's science writing elective course.