The Program Committee’s main goal is to oversee the division’s technical program, start-to-finish, at the fall and spring national meetings. In working toward this goal, we interact cordially and professionally with the many people involved in programming, respond to their diverse requests in a timely manner and have to follow the protocols and enforce the rules by which all who contribute to the program must play.
During the reporting period, the Division held a successful Fall 2025 meeting in Washington, D.C. We thank Aimee Miller (senior co-chair) and Cary Supalo (co-chair) for their leadership, supported by Program Committee Chair Ryan Sweeder and Co-Chair Pamela Clevenger. The program featured 331 accepted papers, including 151 oral presentations, 50 general posters, and 170 undergraduate posters. We also recognize Steven Fleming and Cathy MacGowen for coordinating General Papers, and Ryan Sweeder and Sonja Underwood for organizing General Posters. The GSSPC session, organized by Bo Couture and Juan David Villada of UT Dallas, was well attended. We appreciate all contributors for their exemplary work.
Planning for the Spring 2026 conference is progressing smoothly. Technical program chairs Faith Yarberry (senior co-chair) and Craig Teague (co-chair), along with Sweeder and Clevenger, have guided the submission of 1,290 abstracts, including 947 student posters, 55 general posters, 79 student chapter posters, and 18 virtual oral presentations. The GSSPC symposium, organized by Lucy Huffman of the University of Rochester, and the Sunday Teacher Day activities, coordinated by Michael Mury, are key components of the program. Joint Programming with other divisions will support a diverse schedule celebrating 150 years of chemistry and community.
Preparations for the Fall 2026 meeting are also underway. Aimee Miller (senior co-chair) and Mitzy Erdmann (co-chair) are leading the organization of submissions for the Chicago meeting. At CHED’s request, a Sunday Teacher Day will again be offered, coordinated by Michael Mury.
Over the last two years, the Program Committee has moved to a chair/co-chair model. There has been a transfer of the chair position. Pamela Clevenger is now Chair and Ryan Sweeder is Co-Chair. This transition has been essential to the continuity of leadership for the Program Committee. Ryan Sweeder’s planning and guidance are acknowledged and very much appreciated. Thank you, Ryan.
The new footprint of ACS meetings has been a challenge but working together we have been able to identify and resolve challenges and find ways to improve our approach to programming a large national conference. A sincere thank you goes out to:
- All Program Co-chairs and Committee Members planning recent and upcoming meetings
- The ACS in the Undergraduate Program Office to represent student needs
- ACS Abstracts, Robin Green, Warren Lin, Josh Blair and Monique Ventura for answering requests with grace
- Heather Ryan, for always keeping us on task and getting our goals met
Same/no changes
$1,000
Funds were requested to cover a meal for meeting co-chairs and guests at the spring and fall meetings.