Candidate Q&A

What would be my focus as ACS President-Elect?

• Improve Membership

• Promote education

• Advocate for a diverse workforce

• Communicate our passion for and advancement of chemistry

What unique qualification do I bring as a candidate for President-Elect?

• I have spent the past 6 years learning about membership, and the past 2 years leading the Membership Affairs Committee. This is the committee has the responsibility to monitor membership data, analyze benefits, and recommend changes to Council.

• In-depth understanding of our membership trends, marketing strategies, common friction points, and ideas to improve it

• Expertise in diversity issues, especially in gender diversity as member and Chair of the Women Chemists Committee

• Experienced academic leader in a large chemistry department

What challenges does ACS face?

• Distinguishing ourselves as the go-to place for all who work in the chemical enterprise

• Providing and improving the value for all of our members

• Responding to changing patterns of how we prefer to meet and interact

• Advocating effectively for education, safe and vibrant workplaces, research funding, and the public perception of science

How can these challenges at ACS be met?

By all of us members as we build an inclusive and welcoming community! We have a very capable and committed group of volunteers and leaders who can work with ACS staff and the Board of Directors.

We have a good organizational structure both by our geographic areas and by areas of interest. We need to use volunteer time in smarter ways, revise and deliver our benefits, offerings, and opportunities to meet the needs of chemistry students professionals at all career (and post career!) stages.

Enhance ACS membership: improve the member experience, facilitate member engagement, and foster an inclusive and global member community.

What would I actually DO?

Working with ACS leaders, volunteers, and staff….

• Develop better ways for new members to navigate ACS as an organization.

• Advocate for increased IT capacity which impacts many aspects of membership management, digital badging and micro-credentialing systems.

• Promote more personalized approach to our messaging.

• Provide a clear(er) value proposition, especially for industrial members.

• Build community. ACS member-: recruit-a-member, retain-a-member, mentor-a-member, invite-a-member, thank-a-member, promote-a-member, …. We need to foster connection in an authentic and welcoming environment.

• Provide, revise, better deploy high-impact content and resources to help us respond to the changing interactions within the employment and educational landscapes.

• Communicate these opportunities to a global audience.