I am honored and excited to begin my year as Chair-Elect, working alongside so many dedicated individuals to advance chemical education. Being elected to this role by the members of this division is truly humbling, and I deeply appreciate your trust and support. 

Over the past few months, I have had the pleasure of getting to know many of you through various committees, and I am incredibly grateful for your warm welcome and guidance as I navigate the intricacies of the division. The commitment, effort, and thoughtfulness that you all bring to this work are inspiring, and I am continually amazed by the collective impact this community has on chemical education. 

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Kim Cortes, Resa Kelly, and Thom Bussey for their outstanding leadership and sense of community. Being on the chair succession with them is an incredible experience, and I am learning so much from them. I also want to express my gratitude to Heather Johnson for her dedication and support in advancing the work of the division.

This year, I have been focusing on Goal 2, Strategy 1: Faculty Development, alongside my co-chair, Scott Hawkins. Our team is working on several exciting events in collaboration with different groups, including: 1) a high school teacher event at the Fall ACS Regional Meeting in Orlando; 2)a virtual POGIL workshop this summer; and 3) a virtual meeting for early career chemistry education scholars this summer, which is being organized in partnership with the Early Career Chemistry Education Scholars Committee. We hope these events provide valuable professional development opportunities for the members and foster connections across the chemical education community. 

Thank you all for your dedication to the division and to the advancement of chemical education. I look forward to working with you over the next three years and continuing to build a strong, supportive, and innovative community. 

Kind Regards, 
Gina Frey 
Chair Elect, ACS Division of Chemical Education