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Gender Equity in Chemical Sciences (GEICS) Inclusive Leadership Award
The Illinois Department of Chemistry and The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) have a shared vision of becoming leaders in Inclusive Excellence and are pursuing that vision in a variety of ways, including recognizing inclusive leaders in our chemical sciences community.
Inclusive Excellence (IE) is the recognition that our chemical sciences community's success is dependent on valuing and engaging the rich diversity of students, staff, faculty, administrators, and the alumni community. More than a short-term solution/bandage or single office initiative, this comprehensive approach requires a fundamental transformation of the department by embedding and practicing inclusive excellence in every effort, aspect, and level within the School of Chemical Sciences. Our goal is to make inclusive excellence a habit that is implemented and practiced consistently throughout the departments.
To recognize the community members that are models of Inclusive Excellence, in 2019 the Department of Chemistry Office of Graduate Diversity and Program Climate established the Gender Equity in Chemical Sciences Inclusive Leadership Award (GEICSIL). The award is now awarded to an outstanding Department of Chemistry or ChBE graduate student or postdoc committed to promoting full and equal participation of women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and/or persons of differing sexual orientations and gender identities in research and teaching.
Award Details
The recipients (one each from the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering) will receive an engraved award presented at the Annual Gender Equity in Chemical Sciences Conference, recognition on the Chemistry/ChBE websites, and up to $500 disbursed through the recipients' university accounts. Funds can be used for participation in conferences or receiving additional certifications, among other professional development activities.
The runner-up awardee will receive up to $500 sponsored by the Women Chemists’ Committee disbursed similarly to the GEICS Inclusive Leadership Award.
Nomination Deadline
Nominations are due the third Friday in July of each year. Nominations from current Chemistry and ChBE faculty, postdocs, and graduate students are invited. Contact chem-advocay@illinois.edu to learn how to submit a nomination.
Selection Process
Awardees are selected each year by an ad hoc committee of inclusive excellence professionals, and faculty across the University. Once the winner is chosen, the nominees and nominators will be notified.
2024 Inclusive Leadership Award recipients
Archana Verma — GEICS Inclusive Leadership Award recipient
(Graduate student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) advised by Nicholas E. Jackson, an assistant professor of chemistry and affiliate faculty member in ChBE)
Katherine (Katie) Hatzis — Inclusive Leadership Award runner-up
(Graduate student in the Department of Chemistry in the research groups of Catherine J. Murphy, Larry R. Faulkner Endowed Chair in Chemistry)
News story — Graduate students recognized for Inclusive Excellence | Department of Chemistry | Illinois
Past Recipients
2023
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Jiachun Shi — GEICS Inclusive Leadership Award recipient (Graduate student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in Prof. Simon Rogers group)
Catherine Jalomo — Inclusive Leadership Award runner-up (Graduate student in the Department of Chemistry in the research groups of Prof. Catherine Murphy and Prof. Steve Zimmerman)
News story — Graduate students recognized for their Inclusive Leadership | Chemistry at Illinois
2022
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Anita Wo — Winner of 2022 GEICS Inclusive Leadership Award (Graduate student in chemistry professor Catherine J. Murphy's group)
Claudia E. Berdugo-Díaz — 2022 GEICS Inclusive Leadership Award, Runner-up (Graduate student in ChBE professor David W. Flaherty's group)
News story — Graduate students recognized for Inclusive Leadership | Chemistry at Illinois
2021
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Jazmin Aguilar-Romero and Sarah Krueger — Co-winners of 2021 GEICS Inclusive Leadership Award
(Both are graduate students in chemistry professor Steven Zimmerman's group)
Katie Stawiasz — 2021 GEICS Inclusive Leadership Award, Runner-up
(Graduate student in chemistry professor Jeffrey Moore's group)
News story — Three students recognized with Inclusive Leadership awards
2020
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Alison Wallum (pictured on left) — 2020 GEICS Inclusive Leadership Award
(Graduate student, chemistry professor Martin Gruebele research group, and research group of Joseph Lyding, professor of electrical and computer engineering.)
Hannah Toru (right) — 2020 GEICS Inclusive Leadership Award – Runner up
(Johnson group, geochemistry)
News story – Alison Wallum and Hannah Toru win Inclusive Leadership awards
2019
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Lauren Hagler — Recipient of the first annual GEICS (formerly called Women in Chemistry) Inclusive Leadership Award.
(Graduate student, chemistry professor Steven Zimmerman group).
News story – Inaugural Women in Chemistry Inclusive Leadership Award recognizes leaders in inclusive excellence