Tennessee State University

Dorothy J. Phillips retired from Waters Corporation in 2013 as Director, Strategic Marketing. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1967 and her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati in 1974. She began her forty-year industrial career at Dow Chemical Company and later joined the Waters Corporation. She has been a member of the American Chemical Society since 1973.

Dr. Joerg Schlatterer is the Director of the Office of Research Grants at the ACS where he oversees the distribution of approximately $22 million in grants annually. He provides leadership for the ACS Petroleum Research Fund which supports fundamental research in the petroleum field, and as well as grant programs in agricultural chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and chemistry and biochemistry more generally.  As a key thought leader for the ACS Scientific Advancement Division, he works to ensure that the ACS strategically utilizes its grantmaking capacity to best support today’s scientific research community. In previous roles at ACS, Dr. Schlatterer led several programs designed to support the career and professional development of students and postdoctoral investigators. He is the co-PI on the NSF INCLUDES Alliance grant for the Inclusive Graduate Education Network, and he led the development of the ACS Bridge Project which aims to broaden participation in PhD education. Prior to joining the ACS in 2017, Dr. Schlatterer served as Program Director in the Division of Graduate Education at the US National Science Foundation. He began his professional career as a faculty member in biochemistry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City; and later served as Assistant Dean of Faculty Professional Development at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Schlatterer received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from the Free University of Berlin, and his PhD in chemistry from the University of Heidelberg.  

Dr. Lori Ana Valentín is an analytical chemist and ACS Career consultant whose professional experience has spanned industry, government and higher education. She served the New York State Police Crime Laboratory System for seven years as a forensic scientist where she performed criminal casework before moving into laboratory management.  She now applies her analytical skills to her favorite element – people – full time in training and talent development. She has a BS in Biochemistry from SUNY Fredonia and earned her MS and PhD in analytical chemistry at Binghamton University.  She resides in Albany, NY with her son Isaac, partner Renaldo (a Trooper with NYSP), and their giant dog Chico.

Audrey K Bowden is Professor of Biomedical Engineering (BME), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Computer Science (CS) at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Bowden received her BSE in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University, her PhD in BME from Duke University and completed her postdoctoral training in Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University. Her research interests include biomedical optics (particularly optical coherence tomography and near infrared spectroscopy) and point-of-care diagnostics.

Aaron-Albert M. Hargrove, PharmD, is a highly accomplished pharmacist with extensive expertise in clinical research, project management, and clinical supply systems. Based in North Texas, he holds a Doctorate of Pharmacy from St. Louis College of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Morehouse College. Aaron currently serves as Associate Director – Clinical Research Lead (CRL) at Eli Lilly and Company, where he leads metabolic studies, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular outcomes. He manages strategic sites, engages institutions, and ensures timely trial recruitment and database lock delivery. Prior to this, he held positions at Eli Lilly, spearheading initiatives in telemedicine, virtual orchestration, and Alzheimer’s therapeutic development. Aaron is recognized for his leadership, attention to detail, and mentoring of clinical operations teams. He has contributed to international research projects in France and published in esteemed journals like the American Chemistry Society. His commitment to advancing clinical research and enhancing patient outcomes aligns with his professional mission. Outside of work, Aaron is an avid traveler who appreciates diverse global cultures. His passion for exploring new destinations and engaging with multicultural communities enriches his perspective and ignites his curiosity and innovation.

Kayla Kasper is an Advanced Engineer in R&D at Owens Corning, where she has worked for the past eight years. For seven of those years, she served as an analytical chemist, specializing in the identification and characterization of organic compounds used in building materials. She recently transitioned into a product engineering role, focusing on asphaltic-based shingle components. Kayla holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from The Ohio State University and a master’s in polymer science and engineering from Lehigh University. She actively contributes to the chemistry community as a counselor for her local American Chemical Society (ACS) section and as a member of the Younger Chemists Committee (YCC). She resides in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, with her husband Michael, their cat Abby, and dog Acadia.

Dr. Dawn Holt leverages a rare combination of scientific depth and pedagogical acumen as the portfolio manager of the ACS Bridge Program. Holding a Ph.D. in Medical Pathology and a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, she’s driven by a dual passion: nurturing academic rigor and empowering students to achieve their full potential. Her stewardship of the Bridge Program encompasses strategic development aimed at bolstering the chemical sciences landscape, alongside personalized mentorship for students. Her core mission is to eliminate obstacles faced by students in graduate programs, cultivating a supportive and inclusive environment conducive to success. This is realized through a comprehensive support framework, which includes the design and oversight of career and professional development opportunities. These initiatives are meticulously crafted to equip students with the tools necessary to realize their academic and professional ambitions. In essence, Dr. Holt’s multifaceted expertise and unwavering commitment to student success solidify her as a transformative leader, driving positive change within the chemical sciences and beyond.

Jessica Armstrong is a Program Manager in the Student Communities Office of the American Chemical Society. In this role, she plans and implements student programming at the ACS Spring and Fall Meetings, as well as supporting Graduate Student Organizations and managing grant processes throughout the year. Prior to joining ACS, Jessica worked as a high school chemistry teacher in Baltimore, MD. She graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from William & Mary and in 2020 with a master’s degree in chemistry from Yale University.

Becky Monfort is the Program Manager for ACS on Campus, the American Chemical Society’s flagship outreach program. She oversees events and programs at institutions around the world, bringing leaders in chemistry, publishing, research, science communication, and career development to thousands of students and early career researchers. Prior to joining the ACS on Campus team, Becky managed the ACS international student chapter program, coordinated ACS outreach efforts to international students and faculty in the chemical sciences, and facilitated student programming at ACS and other scientific meetings. Becky joined ACS in July 2017 from Organic Letters, an ACS Publication, at the University of Pennsylvania, and she has worked in global program strategy and development. Becky holds a BA in French and Comparative Literature from Bryn Mawr College.

Tyrone Spiva is a seasoned Quality Control leader with 25+ years in biotech and pharma manufacturing. Currently Head of QC at Kyowa Kirin, he leads the buildout of a new greenfield site, overseeing lab setup, method transfers, equipment validation, and environmental monitoring. His focus on data integrity and operational efficiency ensures global regulatory alignment. Tyrone has directed major QC expansions, regulatory submissions, and FDA inspections at National Resilience Inc. and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. He brings deep expertise in analytical/micro testing, LIMS/CDS systems, GMP compliance, and lab automation. Known for building high-performing teams and driving continuous improvement, Tyrone delivers scalable, inspection-ready QC operations.

Kara (Allen) KasaKaitas graduated from Mississippi University for Women with a Bachelor’s of Science.  She began her laboratory career in clinical research and transitioned to an analytical chemist role, spending most of her time at the bench in the pharmaceutical industry. Kara has worked in scientific recruitment over the last fifteen years, including hiring and facilitating career development efforts for thousands of chemists.  At the same time, she has been active in collaborating with universities nationwide and leading volunteer science outreach efforts. She currently works as the Director, Recruitment and University Relations for Aegis Sciences Corporation, a Nashville-based forensic toxicology laboratory. Kara has more than 20 years of active service to the American Chemical Society at the local and national levels; Kara served as Chair of the ACS National Committee on Technician Affairs as well as Chair of the Memphis and Nashville Local Sections. She has been a longtime, significant contributor to ACS National Committees, including Community Activities and Younger Chemists. In addition, she has been a volunteer ACS National Career Consultant since 2012 and received the 2015 Consultant of the Year Award. In 2018, she was named a Fellow of the American Chemical Society.