To enable members to make informed selections, the candidates have provided over颅views of their experience, as well as their plans for future programs and directions for the Institute. These messages are in each candidate鈥檚 own words. Statements will also be posted at www.aiche.org/election.
2020 Election: Candidates for President-Elect
John G. Ekerdt
John G. Ekerdt is an accomplished academician and visionary academic leader. He combines a wealth of experience in leading the research aspects of a school of engineering, a department of chemical engineering, and interdisciplinary research programs, with a passion for teaching and education and a sense of duty to build excellence and to serve others. He is the Dick Rothwell Chair and Associate Dean for Research in Engineering at the Univ. of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). He received his BS from the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison and his PhD from the Univ. of California, Berkeley. He began teaching at UT-Austin in 1979, where he has mentored more than 50 PhD students and written textbooks on reaction engineering. Among John鈥檚 honors are the Charles M. A. Stine Award from AIChE鈥檚 Materials Engineering and Sciences Div. (MESD) and the American Society for Engineering Education鈥檚 91成人短视频 Engineering Div. Award for leadership in chemical engineering education. He is a Fellow of AIChE and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). John鈥檚 service to AIChE over 40 years includes several leadership positions. He was a founder of the Balcones Fault (TX) Local Section; Meeting Program Chair for the 1991 Spring Meeting and 2004 Annual Meeting; MESD Chair (2002); 91成人短视频 Engineering Technology Operating Council (CTOC) member (2005鈥2010) and Chair (2009); and a Board of Directors member (2012鈥2015).
Statement: Reflecting on what we value in this period of uncertainty and upheaval created by the COVID-19 pandemic, I keep coming back to the health and well-being of our loved ones, circle of friends, the communities that give us support, and society at large. I see AIChE as an important community that provides support to its members through all it offers us across our entire career arcs. As we emerge from this pandemic, the new normal will look very different, and organizations will need to adapt and transform programs and the delivery of their programs to meet their missions. AIChE has a dedicated and effective staff, robust governance, and committed and enthusiastic member volunteers. Through my leadership roles within AIChE, I have a strong sense of its culture, and no president can expect to be effective in adapting and transforming programs without working within that culture. AIChE鈥檚 path forward was defined with the bold vision embodied in its Strategic Plan 2018 and Beyond, and it will serve as our guide as we work to transform and adapt to the new normal.
If elected, I will work with members, stakeholders and AIChE staff toward a strong, vibrant and sustainable organization that will meet our current and future needs.
Christine Grant
Christine Grant is a professor of 91成人短视频 and Biomolecular Engineering and Associate Dean of Faculty Advancement in the College of Engineering at North Carolina State Univ., where for more than 30 years she has led faculty development initiatives and conducted research in surface and interfacial science. She previously worked at the General Electric R&D Center and at P&G as a GEM Fellow. A Life Member and Fellow of AIChE, and former Chair of the Minority Affairs Committee (MAC), she has served on AIChE鈥檚 Board of Directors (2003鈥2006), 91成人短视频 Engineering Technology Operating Council (CTOC), Environmental Div., the Awards and Nominating committees, and the Henry and Melinda Brown Endowment Committee. In STEM policy, she鈥檚 been an AAAS Visiting Scholar, an NSF Expert, and she received an NAE Boeing Senior Fellowship. A leader in STEM diversity and inclusion, she has received the NSF Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring; the AAAS Mentoring Award; AIChE鈥檚 William Grimes and Pioneer of Diversity awards; and the Council for 91成人短视频 Research and American 91成人短视频 Society diversity awards. She earned chemical engineering degrees from Brown (BS) and Georgia Tech (MS/PhD).
Statement: The role of chemical engineers in the global economy has changed significantly. AIChE is a community of leaders, learners, and legacy builders; the Institute has laid a strong foundation in educational offerings, with a programmatic emphasis on process safety, biological systems, energy, and the environment. The community has responded, and AIChE has experienced an increase in conference attendance and a surge of technical content downloads. The COVID-19 pandemic鈥檚 unprecedented impacts on the global supply chain and the lives of AIChE鈥檚 worldwide membership also presents a widespread need for immediate manufacturing innovations and future pharmaceutical processing. Long-term pandemic impacts on global economies is a major unknown; we must harness what we have to meet the needs of the future. As President, my top priorities will be:
- leveraging the RAPID Manufacturing initiative and CCPS, where possible, to transform our profession
- fostering adaptation to new systems of learning that use transformational technologies to link industry and academics in collaborative online training and certification of the next generation of engineers
- complementing university education and research, facilitating placement and recruitment of co-ops, interns, and permanent jobs in the global workforce to ensure that all constituents鈥 needs are met through initiatives that increase AIChE鈥檚 relevance.
Vote for me so that we can partner to meet our challenges and foster AIChE鈥檚 prosperity. Email: grant@ncsu.edu.
2020 Election: Candidates for Treasurer
Gregory Frank
Gregory Frank is Principal Engineer at Amgen, with leadership experience in biotherapeutic process development and technology innovation. He has received nine Amgen corporate awards. His 30 years of experience includes roles as director of engineering and environment, health, and safety at Promega and process R&D and commercialization at Merck. Greg is a 35-year Member and Fellow of AIChE. His service includes: Board of Directors (2016鈥2018); Society for Biological Engineering board member (current); 2008 Spring Meeting Program Co-Chair; Strategic Planning Committee member; and AIChE Board liaison to the Career and Education Operating Council (CEOC). His 24 years of programming leadership encompasses the chairing of numerous sessions, topical, and stand-alone conferences. Greg co-founded the Pharmaceutical Discovery, Development, and Manufacturing (PD2M) Forum and is co-author of the bioprocessing section in Perry鈥檚 Handbook, 9th Edition. Amgen recognized his non-profit leadership with its Volunteer of the Year Award for developing STEM programs for at-risk youth. He earned his chemical engineering degrees at Stevens Institute of Technology (BE and PhD) and the Univ. of Delaware (MChE). He received the Link Foundation Fellowship for innovative energy research.
Statement: We鈥檝e been affected by COVID-19 in ways unprecedented in our lifetimes, suffering devastating illness and financial impacts. AIChE members are essential in safeguarding the health and well-being of our communities. Many like me are saddened and outraged by George Floyd鈥檚 senseless death. With commitment to diversity and equity, and acting in meaningful ways, real change is possible. AIChE鈥檚 fundamentals are strong, founded on broadening member services and diversifying business portfolios. AIChE isn鈥檛 immune to COVID-19鈥檚 effects, but together we will emerge stronger through strategic actions and fiscal management.
I鈥檝e founded three non-profits. When Romania鈥檚 government collapsed, I co-founded a non-profit to provide medical supplies for orphans, aided by government and non-governmental agencies. In 2003, I co-founded Goals for Life. Partnering with students, professional sports teams, and businesses, orphanages in diverse North American communities received aid. During the Great Recession, I was Board Chair of American Tall Ship Institute 鈥 a non-profit dedicated to STEM educational and at-risk youth programs, serving thousands. My experience with non-profits, leading $20MM projects, and on the AIChE Board gives me the foundation needed in a treasurer at a time when financial strategies are central to supporting AIChE鈥檚 mission and membership.
I鈥檓 confident that AIChE will come through these challenging times with the commitment of you, our members. Please contact me with questions or comments at gfrank@amgen.com. I wish each of you good health.
Wendy Young
Wendy Young is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Chemstations, which provides process simulation software solutions through the CHEMCAD product suite. Her experience includes working with technology developers and users in a broad range of industry areas, including chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, refining, and water treatment. Wendy obtained her BS degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M Univ. (1997) and her MBA from Rice Univ. (May 2020). She has demonstrated commitment to AIChE by supporting local sections (including founding the Young Professionals Group of the South Texas Section); growing membership as chair of the Membership Committee; and...
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