WCC Luncheon

Over 200 people attended the Women Chemists Committee Luncheon on Tuesday of the ACS National Meeting in Philadelphia. We were delighted to present the Overcoming Challenges Award to Mrs. Erika Tutko, a Marine veteran who is continuing her undergraduate studies in chemistry at Coastal Carolina Community College despite interruptions in her schooling and physical challenges.  Five of the WCC/Eli Lilly Travel Award winners who attended the meeting and presented their research at a poster session prior to the luncheon were also recognized. They are Bridget Alligood (University of Chicago), Meredith Foley (New York University), Elizabeth Harker (Yale University), Andria Panagopoulos (Loyola University-Chicago), and Danielle Schuehler (Syracuse University).

Following this presentation, Trish Maxon, Vice President of Human Resources, Merck & Co, was our distinguished speaker. She shared the stories of five women she befriended in graduate school at UC Berkeley who went on to careers in industry. Common to most of the stories were opportunities that arose in other areas of chemistry, life’s hardships, and the large role that family plays in the work/life balance mix. Some of the advice these women had for the future generation of women chemists ranged from paying attention to multidisciplinary areas of research to listening to one’s body for signs of stress. At the conclusion of the luncheon, Jody Kocsis and Judy Cohen presented our outgoing chair, Amber Hinkle, with a plaque for her unwavering service to the WCC committee. Amber also left the audience with her words of advice and encouragement for continuing the goals of the committee.

-Laura Sremaniak

Amber Hinkle and Trish Maxson

Photo courtesy of Linda Wang

Tom Lane, Frankie Wood-Black, Erika Tutko, Amber Hinkle, and Bruce Bursten

Photo courtesy of Janet Bryant