Steven M. Wietstock

I am honored and humbled to have been nominated to serve the Division of Chemical Education in the Chair Succession.  My involvement with the American Chemical Society began as an undergraduate chemistry major, so I understand the importance of our Division in the development of the next generation of chemists.  

Upon becoming a faculty member, I began a career of participation in my local sections in various leadership positions, serving as a career consultant through the ACS, volunteering on and eventually serving as a member of the Biennial Conference Committee.  I served as General Chair for two BCCEs – 2008 at Indiana University and 2018 at Notre Dame.  More recently, I serve on the division’s Safety Committee and am now Chair of the committee.  As Chair, I have been working with the Office of Safety Programs staff at ACS Headquarters along with members of the leadership teams of the Committee on Chemical Safety, and Division of Chemical Health and Safety.  Several initiatives of this team include enhancing the safety training of undergraduate chemists, creation of new workshops for faculty development, and development of new safety resources.  One major project has been to generate, field test, and market the launch of Finster and Hills’ 3rd edition Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students as a free ACS e-Book for educators and students.  

Looking to the future of the Division, there are several challenges I am interested in providing leadership to address.  These challenges include growing the division’s membership, providing new and relevant faculty development opportunities, and establishing leadership development programs for a diverse and changing faculty pool.  I look forward to the opportunity to serve the Division in this new role and to work with our membership to ensure the continued success of our Division.