On March 26 at 8:00 a.m., members of the American Chemical Society Council met in person in San Diego at ACS Spring 2025 to begin their council meeting. The meeting was open to the public, with an observer’s section for anyone interested in attending, and also included an option to join virtually.
Elections
On Sunday, March 23, the Committee on Nominations and Elections hosted a president-elect town hall, offering members a chance to ask the four nominees for 2026 president-elect questions that extended beyond their candidate statements. During the Wednesday council meeting, councilors elected Christina Bodurow and Dawn Mason to move forward on the slate for the election of the 2027 ACS president in fall.
The primary election results for candidates for District II are Kimberly Agnew-Heard and Mary Engelman and for District IV are Lisa Houston and Milagros (Milly) Delgado. The term for these two district positions will be 2026–28.
The 2026–28 director-at-large candidates are Anna Cavinato, Donna Friedman, Malika Jeffries-EL, and Will Lynch.
Candidates, including petition candidates, certified by the July 15 deadline will be on the ballot in the fall. You can submit nominations for 2027 directors and officers by emailing nomelect@acs.org or by using the nominations portal at https://nominations.acs.org/form/entry.asp.
Reports and council actions
Members of the ACS presidential succession delivered oral reports to councilors. ACS president Dorothy J. Phillips reported on efforts and collaborations that support her presidential initiative of building chemistry careers inclusively. ACS president-elect Rigoberto Hernandez presented his first report to the council, and ACS immediate past president Mary K. Carroll presented her last report to the council. Other officers’ reports included ACS Board of Directors chair Wayne E. Jones Jr., and ACS CEO Albert G. Horvath.
Elected society committees who presented reports included the following:
Council Policy Committee (CPC). CPC reviewed recent actions including the creation of six global electoral zones and agreed on two motions the Committee on Committees brought forth.
Committee on Committees (ConC). At the ACS Fall 2025 council meeting, ConC—which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year—will be recommending the establishment of the Committee on the Advancement of LGBTQ+ Chemists (CALC) and the realignment of the Society Committee on Publications as an ACS advisory board. Anyone interested in serving on an ACS committee can complete a committee preference form at www.acs.org/cmte through July 3.
ConC motioned to vote on the continuance of the Committee on Chemical Technical Professionals, and if agreed on by the ACS Board, the continuance of the Committee on Budget and Finance, Society Committee on Education, Committee on International Activities, and Committee on Patents and Related Matters. A majority of the council voted yes on the motion. ConC also motioned to amend the duties of the Committee on Patents and Related Matters (CPRM) and change its name to the Committee on Intellectual Property (CIP). A majority of the council voted yes, and the name change will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
After voting, commentary from councilors on the establishment of the Committee on the Advancement of LGBTQ+ Chemists (CALC) took place. A councilor from Rhode Island and a councilor from the Division of Chemistry and the Law raised the concern that the creation of such a committee would further increase silos across the organization. A councilor from the Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division rebutted that silos can also be safe spaces, particularly in the social climate of today. A councilor from the Chemical Society of Washington emphasized the focus on intersectionality¾noting that committees like the Women Chemists Committee provide valuable insights and are not restricted only to members who identify with that community. The councilor encouraged all members to use these committees as a place to intersect and expose themselves to experiences that may be unfamiliar to them.
Committee on Nominations and Elections (N&E). N&E motioned to amend the number of councilors on the Committee on Nominations and Elections by adding four, and a majority of the council voted yes on this motion.
Society Committees who presented reports included the following:
Committee on International Activities (IAC). IAC motioned to charter new international chemical sciences chapters (ICSCs) in Ghana, Ecuador, and Northeast China.
A councilor from the Central New Mexico Local Section raised concerns about creating an ICSC in Northeast China, condemning some of the actions and interests of the Chinese government. The councilor motioned to present each potential ICSC individually to be voted on, instead of as a group. In an argument against this motion, a councilor from the Division of Environmental Chemistry felt that voting on the ICSCs individually would increase division and used the example of a colleague’s manuscript being rejected just because it was from the US, noting how dangerous it is to create divisions with our chemistry colleagues based only on location.
A majority of the council members agreed to consider all the proposed ICSCs separately.
A councilor from the Chicago Section shared that one of the greatest disappointments in his lifetime was seeing the participation in the Olympics restricted to some countries because of political differences, saying, “It’s important to communicate even when the politicians can’t.” A councilor from the San Diego Local Section agreed with the councilor from the Central New Mexico Local Section about the Chinese government’s actions but noted that, just like in the US, scientists may or may not be supportive of the policies of the government and that as long as the people within the proposed ICSC area support the values of the ACS, he was in favor of chartering the chapter.
A majority of the council voted yes to chartering ICSCs in Ghana, Ecuador, and Northeast China.
Committee on Local Section Activities (LSAC). LSAC started its report by recognizing local sections celebrating notable anniversaries. Seventy-five-year anniversaries include the East Alabama West Georgia, Central Arkansas, Central North Carolina, and Mark Twain local sections. The North Jersey Section is celebrating its 100-year anniversary, and the Kansas City Section is celebrating 125 years. LSAC could not find someone to lead the reactivation of the Penn-Ohio Border Local Section, so a motion was made to dissolve it. A majority of the council approved the motion, which will be effective Jan. 1, 2026. The upcoming territory recommendations will address options for alternative sections for these members. Voting on these territories will take place in the fall. Local sections can review proposed assignments at https://www.acs.org/local-sections/acs-unassigned-territories.html.
Committee on Membership Affairs (MAC). MAC motioned to approve the 2026 Schedule of Dues and Benefits. A majority of the council voted yes.
Other society committees that gave reports included the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, the Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs, and the Society Committee on Education.
Resolutions
The meeting opened with the passing of a resolution in memory of 2001 ACS President Attila E. Pavlath, who passed away in November 2024, and eight other deceased ACS councilors. A moment of silence followed this acknowledgment.
The resolutions passed to close the meeting included acknowledging the San Diego Local Section for hosting the ACS Spring meeting in their city this year and extending a big thanks to the council, the society, divisional program chairs, symposium organizers, and headquarters staff.
The council agenda and meeting minutes for this meeting are available online at https://www.acs.org/about/governance/councilors.html.
Chemical & Engineering News
ISSN 0009-2347
Copyright © 2025 American Chemical Society
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