Deborah Janes, Candidate for Chair-Elect

Biography
Deborah Janes is an analytical chemist employed at the Eastman Kodak Company in the Ion Analysis Laboratory of the Foundation Science and Technology Center, supporting research and development of imaging chemicals. She received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Chemistry and a Master’s Degree of Material Science and Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Deborah currently serves on the executive committee of the Rochester Local Section as a member-at-large, and previously served on the executive board of the Technician Affiliate Group (TAG). She is actively involved with Tim Wilson in presenting a chemical education outreach program, Adventures in Chemistry and Physics (ACAP) to students throughout the year. In this capacity, she has volunteered at National Chemistry Week celebrations, ACS High School Chemistry Awards Nights, Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Science Saturdays Program and Science and Technology Week, and Kodak’s National Engineering Week programs, presented workshops to junior and senior high students at Science Exploration Days, science educators at Science Educators’ Conferences, and the STANYS Science Educators Conference. In 2001, she presented a workshop with Tim Wilson at the 221st National ACS Meeting in San Diego, California. Deborah was also a member of the NERM 2004 organizing committee and the co-chair of the Secondary School Teacher and Student Event during NERM 2004.

Position Statement
I am willing to serve as Chair-Elect of the Rochester Section in 2010. In this position, I would seek to forge stronger links between the section and other groups such as Younger Chemists Committee and the Committee on Technician Affairs, and would also like to re-establish a Women’s Chemist Committee. I believe these partnerships will strengthen our section and make it more vital. 2012 is a big year for the Rochester Section as we prepare to celebrate our 100th anniversary, as well as host the Northeast Regional Meeting (NERM). I feel it is vital that the next two years be a time for planning an anniversary celebration that is meaningful to all members of the section and a successful NERM 2012. I will continue to support our successful programs and look forward to working with a dedicated group of professionals.

Mark Heitz, Candidate for Treasurer

Mark P. Heitz is Associate Professor of Chemistry at SUNY Brockport. Mark teaches a variety of courses, with a primary emphasis on Analytical Chemistry. A native of Rochester, Mark began his training at The King’s College, Briarcliff Manor, NY, receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. He also studied at Rochester Institute of Technology with Professors G. Takacs and V. Vukanovic working on surface modifications of polyimides. In 1990, he earned a Master Degree from the University of Rochester. Following this Mark taught high-school chemistry for three years prior to attending SUNY Buffalo, where in 1995 he earned his Ph.D. under the tutelage of Professor Frank Bright. Mark’s research at UB was focused on studying solute dynamics in reverse micelles formed in liquids and supercritical fluids. Mark accepted a post-doctoral position at The Pennsylvania State University with Professor Mark Maroncelli continuing to study solute-solvent interactions in supercritical fluids.

Mark has become an active contributor to local section activities by serving on the NERM organizing committee as the Public Relations chair and Exhibition co-chair and as a member-at-large for the past two years. He has also served a two year term as local section treasurer.

Statement: Local section treasurer is position of significant responsibility. Having been actively involved in the local section now for nearly six years, I am interested in continuing to serve the needs of the section by working with the leadership to support, promote and enhance the Section’s programs. It is easy to simply say ‘I’m too busy…’ but the benefits that are enjoyed by the membership are a direct result of those who take time to serve. I have benefited from the numerous people who have generously donated time to the ACS local section and I want to return ‘in-kind’ by contributing where I am able. Serving as treasurer is but one additional way that I can give back to the Society.

Lew Allen, Candidate for Member-at-Large

Lewis E. Allen took early retirement in 1992 from Eastman Kodak where he was director of the Environmental Analytical Services Laboratory. He then served on the adjunct faculty at Monroe Community College, Brockport and Geneseo and as a mentor at SUNY Empire State College before retiring again in 1999. Before joining Kodak he was associate professor of chemistry at Florida A&M University from 1963 to 1970. He received his B.S. in chemistry from Queens College and his Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from Syracuse University. He has served the Rochester Section as Alternate Councilor in 1982-83 and Treasurer in 1984-85. He served as Chair-elect in 1986 and as Chair during the Section’s 75th Anniversary year of 1987 when the section hosted the 17th Northeast Regional Meeting (NERM). As past chair in 1988 he served as chair of the nominating committee and on the audit committee 1988-92. He has also served the section as photographer and on the local Project SEED committee. He was an associate member of the (national) Council Committee on Project SEED from 1990-92 and as a member of the committee 1993-2001. He also served on the national committee on Minority Affairs and served one year as associate member of the Committee on Environmental Improvement. He then served six years as a member of the Council Committee on Meetings and Expositions where he served on three subcommittees. He is also coordinator of the local section’s Project SEED program and chair of its Retired Chemists Committee. Lew was honored with the Rochester Section Award in 1993.

Position Statement
I have been active in local section activities since 1981 working in a variety of areas in an effort to contribute to the excellent record of the Rochester Section. After fifteen years I retired from the ACS Council and was elected as a member at large. That allowed me to remain a member of the local section executive committee. I will continue my work with Project SEED and the Retired Chemists. I hope you will vote for me as a member at large.

Kim Chichester, Candidate for Member-at-Large

Biography

I have been an analytical chemistry professor at St. John Fisher College for the past year and a half. Prior to Fisher, I received my doctorate from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Before entering graduate school I completed an internship at Atofina elf in Geneseo, NY, which led to a chemist I position at Atotech, USA in Rock Hill, South Carolina. My duties at Atotech involved testing and maintaining customer electroplating baths. I have also worked as a chemist I at Banner Pharmacaps, a pharmaceutical company in High Point, North Carolina. At Banner, my duties were as a quality control specialist, which also involved paperwork for the DEA and FDA.

Since starting at St. John Fisher College, I have co-chaired the Rochester Section Undergraduate Research Symposium (2009) and become the advisor of the chemistry club. As the club advisor I have recently begun paperwork to become an ACS charter club. I would like to further my involvement in the Rochester section of the ACS and becoming a member at large would further that interest.

Position Statement
As a member of the section, my interests lie in the community outreach and educational committees. I would like to get more students involved in chemistry at all ages and education levels. The Adventures in Chemistry and Physics (ACAP) is one area I would really like to get more involved in and I could also see it as a way for my students to be involved in the community and continue their education. Our students at Fisher enjoy service learning and I believe this program is one they would enjoy. I have also noticed two archived committees that I think would be beneficial to students and members alike. The student affiliates and the high school chemistry mentor network committees would give our undergraduate students a chance to be more active participants in the Rochester section and the national ACS as a whole. I know as a student member I felt cut off from the ACS and the opportunities the organization afforded. As the chemistry club advisor, I would like students to be more aware and to be active participants. Having students feel like members from the beginning will go a long way towards building a larger network in the future. I would really enjoy the chance to become an active participant in the Rochester section and promise to do my best to serve all the members as a member at large. Thank you for your support.

Irene Kimaru, Candidate for Member-at-Large

Biography

I received a B.S. in chemistry and biochemistry in 1998 from Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry in 2006 from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. I joined the faculty at St John Fisher College in 2006 where I currently hold the position of Assistant Professor of Chemistry. My research interests include studies of chiral recognition of drug molecules using chiral ionic liquids as chiral selectors and environmental studies of soil contamination with lead in the local region as well as plant uptake of lead.

Position Statement
I am currently an assistant professor of chemistry at St. John Fisher College. Professionally, I have taught chemistry for the past three years, authored 3 papers and a book chapter and presented at numerous ACS and Pittcon meetings. I chaired this year’s 54th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium and contributed at the Science Exploration Days. I have served as a faculty advisor of ACS Student Affiliates for the past two years. This work has convinced me that I can positively influence ACS at the local level. I believe that the Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society needs to continue to reach out positively to all ours members in ways that will benefit them.