For Director-At-Large: Barbara A. Sawrey

San Diego Section. University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Calif.

Academic record: Baldwin-Wallace College, B.S., 1973; San Diego State University, M.A., 1982; University of California, San Diego, and San Diego State University, jointly, Ph.D., 1983

Honors: ACS National Award for Encouraging Women in the Chemical Sciences, 2002; Outstanding Service Award, ACS San Diego Section, 2001; Athena of San Diego, Pinnacle Award for an Individual in Education, 2011; University of California, San Diego, Partner in International Education Award, 2010; University of California, San Diego, Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence, 2004; Distinguished Teaching Award, University of California, San Diego, 1997; Golden Key Honor Society; Sigma Xi; Iota Sigma Pi

Professional positions (for past 10 years): University of California, San Diego, Academic Affairs, associate vice chancellor, 2007– , Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, vice chair for education, 1994–2007, faculty member, 1984– ; University of California, San Diego, Revelle College, acting provost, 2001–02

Service in ACS national offices: Committee on Professional Training, 2009–11; Committee on Nominations & Elections, 2004–08, chair, 2006–08; Committee on Committees, 1998–03, chair, 2001–03, secretary, 1999–2000; Council Policy Committee (nonvoting), 2006–08, 2001–03; Committee on Meetings & Expositions, 1994–97, committee associate, 1991–93; Society Committee on Education, committee associate, 1992

Service in ACS offices: Member of ACS since 1975. San Diego Section: councilor, 1990– ; alternate councilor, 1987–89; Outstanding Scientist Award Committee, 1996– ; Education Committee Chair, 1982–88. Division of Chemical Education: Board of Publications, Journal of Chemical Education, 2003– ; Chemical Education Research Committee, 1997–99; General Chemistry Examining Committee, 1989–97; Long-Range Planning Committee, 1987–93, chair, 1989–91; Program Committee, 1991–94; program chair, ACS spring national meeting, 1994

Member: Iota Sigma Pi. ACS Divisions: Chemical Education, Inorganic Chemistry

Related activities: Board of Governors for the San Diego Foundation, 2008– ; Science & Technology Working Group, chair, 2006–11; Leadership Development System, Facilitator of Extraordinary Leaders Course, 2007– ; 5th Gordon Research Conference on Innovations in College Chemistry Teaching, chair, 1999; 4th Gordon Research Conference on Innovations in College Chemistry Teaching, vice chair, 1997; U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Mentor Search Committee, 1996– ; International Chemistry Olympiad Scientific Board, vice chair, 1992; U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad, mentor, 1987–89

SAWREY’S STATEMENT

It is a privilege to be a candidate for the Board of Directors of the American Chemical Society. When I graduated with my B.S. in chemistry nearly 40 years ago, I could not have imagined the path my career would take, nor could I have predicted the interdisciplinary and global direction the chemical enterprise would take. I am even prouder now than I was then of being a chemist and a member of ACS. I am grateful to the society for the opportunities that membership and participation have provided me. I have enjoyed giving back to ACS.

I have been fortunate to be involved with ACS at many levels: local section, division, council, and national committees. The variety of these arenas is a strength of our organization. Any ACS member can participate once or in a sustained way, locally or nationally, for professional or personal interests, as a leader or as a participant. I have chosen to be part of many ACS activities—and a few have been thrust upon me. But every activity has taught me something, introduced me to a new colleague, or given me a deeper commitment to a cause.

Professionals in the chemical sciences and related fields continue to join ACS and attend our national meetings in healthy numbers, even though we know that the economic downturn has made this difficult, even impossible, for some. We must not forget that ACS serves both the profession and its individual members.

Each of us values our member benefits differently—taking advantage of some while wondering why we are paying for others we do not use. ACS cannot afford to be all things to all members, but it does provide an array of services. There is always a balance to be achieved between providing member benefits and the cost of doing so. I am an experimentalist and a pragmatist—a combination I believe would serve the board well when making decisions about services.

I am an academic, but my commitment to education extends beyond my university role. I have served as a mentor for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad team, traveling twice with our finalists to international competition, and I remain a member of the Mentor Selection Committee. I am also chair of the advisory board for the ACS Department of Professional Education—home of short courses. This department is expanding offerings to include webcasts and online courses in order to serve the needs of today’s busy professionals.

I am pleased that ACS also offers our members the ability to hone their softer skills through the Leadership Development System. Some of these 16 courses are offered online, and some face-to-face. I am a facilitator for the Extraordinary Leaders course. The Leadership Development System is a jewel in the crown of ACS, but it is not yet well-known among the members.

With the Leadership Development System and the Department of Professional Education, ACS has much to offer our members in terms of continuing education. This is important for grooming new leaders for industry, academia, and the society, and I am eager for ACS to maintain a commitment in these areas.

ACS is a financially sound organization, thanks to the excellent stewardship of the board and the wonderful staff. The role of the board is to be the legal representative of the society, administering its funds and affairs. The board must exercise fiscal responsibility while still charting the organization’s future. ACS updates its strategic vision regularly, but institutional agility is still required in order to respond to fast-changing times. To do that, ACS must continue to

◾ serve K–12 students and teachers

◾ help the public and lawmakers understand the vital role of chemistry in solving today’s problems

◾ foster young scientists to continue their work

◾ provide chemical professionals access to the literature and meetings

This requires that ACS demonstrate strong federal and state advocacy to influence research and development funding, strong support of innovation and entrepreneurship, and strong connections with scientific societies in other countries.

My time spent as a member and chair of the Committee on Committees and the Committee on Nominations & Elections, and as a councilor, has prepared me well for board service. I am a hard worker, open to hearing all sides of an issue. I consider myself a team player, but one who knows when to step up and lead. This is one of those times. If elected, I would be honored to serve on the board.