12
2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDEES
Amy Barrios, BS'95, currently Professor
Mitchell Johnson, PhD'00 (with Joel
in Medicinal Chemistry and the Associate
Miller), currently is the Executive
Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs at the
Vice President at General Plastics
University of Utah
Manufacturing Company
Zlatko Bačić, PhD'81 (with Jack Simons),
Roger Leach, PhD'84 (with Joel Harris),
currently professor at the Department
recently retired from DuPont where he
of Chemistry, New York University
was the Technical Senior Manager and Leader of the Science & Innovation Core Analytical Sciences organization <
ACCESS SCHOLARS DAY 2023 ON JUNE 29 THE DEPARTMENT
a vast network of over 800 program
Professor Gina Frey and chemistry
OF CHEMISTRY AND ITS
alumni.
students performed experiments and
STUDENTS AND FACULTY
engaged the new upcoming students
WELCOMED FUTURE SCIENTISTS
Gina Frey, the Ronald and Eileen
to perform fascinating chemistry
WHO ARE PART OF THE
Ragsdale Professor of Chemical
experiments.
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH’S ACCESS
Education, noted, “I am so excited
SCHOLARS PROGRAM.
to be the Chemistry liaison to the
Professor Kaci Kuntz, assistant
College of Science ACCESS Program.
professor (lecturer) of chemistry,
ACCESS Scholars encompass
It is an amazing program that provides
developed and facilitated the
individuals from diverse backgrounds,
women and individuals of all identities
students in conducting exciting
including women and people
who exemplify gender equality with a
food experiments. They started the
representing various dimensions
supportive cohort-based, first-year
conversation with ACS Chemistry
of diversity. The program offers a
experience in STEM. I enjoyed meeting
Student Chapter and a “roses
unique introductory year encounter
and talking with this year’s cohort of
experiment.” Then joined in to make
that enlightens scholars about their
women ACCESS scholars during this
ice cream, homemade root beer, and
academic and professional aspirations
two-week summer event. These
Sprite and root beer popping boba
from the very beginning. It boosts
scholars are from all over the nation
(basically, the fanciest root beer float
their social awareness, brings a
and are so passionate about learning
imaginable!) <
community of peers who share similar
science. I look forward to getting to
goals together, and connects first-year
know and mentoring them throughout
science students with mentors and
this coming academic year.”
CATA LYST
| Department of Chemistry
