Mary Fieser received her formal education at Bryn Mawr College and Harvard University. Since then, she has been active with her husband in research and writing. Their numerous books include Organic Chemistry, which was translated into ten languages, and Steroids, of which four editions have been published. Mrs. Fieser has received the DSc (honorary) degree from Smith and from Mount Holyoke, and the Garvin Medal of the American Chemical Society.

Janice G. Smith received her education at Cornell University and Harvard University. She is currently Professor of Chemistry at Mount Holyoke College, with particular emphasis in synthesis.