Director at Large Candidate Statement
The American Chemical Society is the place we have looked to for information services, technologies and opportunities to come together, first as students and as we evolved into professionals solving global challenges and educating the chemists of tomorrow. Personally, I directly credit the ACS Women Chemists Committee (WCC) for providing the travel award that brought me to my first ACS national meeting as a graduate student to present my thesis research and resulted in a networking opportunity that landed my first professional position. Since my early days at Eli Lilly and Company, I have worked to pay it forward to advance women and underrepresented minorities in the chemical workforce and would commit to continue these efforts as a Board member. During three terms on the WCC, I expanded the WCC Travel Award program to a level that has impacted over 600 young women over a rich 25-year history. As the chair of the WCC, I partnered with other like-minded committees to achieve the ACS Diversity statement adopted in 2007.
It would be an honor to serve the society as a director-at large to apply my passion, leadership skills and business expertise in support of the thoughtfully developed ACS Strategic Plan and Goals. My six years on the elected Committee on Committees (ConC), including 3 years as the committee chair and Budget & Finance liaison, has provided me the opportunity to work closely with ACS officers and executive staff to understand how to effectively accomplish priorities. Through this service I have also developed the required working knowledge of the ACS budget and operations. Coupled with my senior business management leadership experience in industry, I am prepared to work collaboratively with other Board members to ensure the on-going strength of the ACS’ financial position.
As a Board member, I would prioritize resources to help the public understand and appreciate scientific inquiry to raise understanding of chemistry’s role in addressing our global challenges. My experience as a local section chair, regional and national meeting organizer and multi-term councilor for the Indiana Section gives me the first-hand knowledge of the great work happening at the grassroots level throughout the country. I would partner with local section and divisions to preserve their vital role in reaching our members, local policy makers, educational leaders and the general public.
I believe I would offer a unique perspective for the Board as a working mid-career industrial chemist. The Board plays a key leadership role is ensuring that ACS member services continue to evolve to meet the changing times. This is especially true for
industrial members who have been impacted by industry consolidation, globalization, and reduced support for travel and professional training. As a representative of my company on Corporation Associates (ACS Board Committee) since 2005, I would work as a Board member to continue the efforts to partner with Corporation Associates to prioritize services and company leadership engagement that are key to industrial member retention and satisfaction with the Society. In addition to direct member
support, the ACS should be a strong partner to our key chemistry-driven industries, research agencies and academic institutions alike through its advocacy efforts that can have a positive impact by influencing federal funding, ensuring free markets where
innovators can expect to be rewarded for the value they create, job creation in the chemical sciences and advancing support for science education.
I’m representative of many thousands of people who have advanced degrees in chemistry and yet today are working outside the lab. I’m sure we can all point to things we learned in our academic and professional training as chemists that have served us well in our current roles. I am grateful to the ACS for the opportunities provided to me at all stages of my career to hone leadership and critical thinking skills along with driving to effective results in both business and volunteer settings.
As a Board member, I offer my commitment to serve the Society to achieve its priorities, evolve for the future and maintain a vibrant and dynamic organization for all members. I am ready to work for you and ask for your support with one of your Director-At-Large votes.