Voting for next year's AIChE Board of Directors is under way as of September 8th at http://www.aiche.org/election. Have your say and help direct the future of AIChE by voting!
The Young Professionals Committee (YPC) asked potential members of AIChE's board four questions about Young Professionals and AIChE. They were asked to answer two main questions, and were given the option of choosing to respond to additional questions, so you may not see responses from every candidate for every question. Answers are shown in alphabetical order by position and the candidate's last name.
In addition to learning about the candidates here, you can also learn more about candidates and the election process on the AIChE election page. You can also hear from candidates for president-elect in this debate.
Q: If a young professional wants to get more involved in AIChE, what steps do you think he or she should take?
For President-Elect
T. Bond Calloway
The local section is the easiest way to get started. Local sections are always looking for new leaders. If possible, attend a regional meeting and become involved with planning these events. There is also a virtual local section for chemical engineers that are not near an existing local section. Additionally, the webinar committee offers great opportunities for young professionals to make an impact. This committee suggests topics for webinars and a young professional can offer a unique perspective by contributing thoughts on what educational topics are needed for the young professional work force.
My regional outreach initiative which is designed to strengthen participation in AIChE by developing regional networks of local sections, industry and academic institutions is another way for a young professional to become involved. Send me an email at bond.calloway@srnl.doe.gov if you want to become involved.
Wendy Young Reed
Start by contacting the Young Professionals Committee (YPC) to let them know you'd like to get more involved by sending an email to ypc@aiche.org. You can learn more about the YPC on this page. The YPC is well-connected throughout the Institute and can help you find a volunteer home that fits your individual interests.
For Secretary
Freeman Self
First - join your local section. The local section is often your first contact with other chemical engineers in similar industries. Most local sections hold regular meetings where one can exchange ideas. If there is no convenient local section, consider the Virtual Local Section or volunteer for an Institute committee. Many committees operate on a teleconference basis. Secondly - develop networking skills. As an old AIChE friend explained, networking is not a list of contacts, but it is helping a colleague. The local section and committees are excellent places to get to know colleagues and for them to know you.
Rosemarie Wesson
First I recommend getting involved with the local chapter of AIChE. Local chapters are ideal for determining where your strengths and interests lie. Maybe you're interested in scheduling speakers or interacting with AIChE student chapters at local colleges or universities. By becoming involved in local AIChE chapters you find numerous growth opportunities.
I would then recommend presenting or volunteering to organize a session at the Annual or Spring AIChE meeting. Again, based on your strengths, determine which Division most closely matches your interests.
For Director
Heriberto Cabezas
The human life-span is long enough that a gradual logical approach is best. Rushing is not necessary. Start by joining your local section and become an active member. Then try for a programming board or election to a directorship in one of the many divisions and forums with the AIChE. If you enjoy being a leader of the AIChE, try for election to chair a division or forum. You can also organize sessions and eventually conferences - you meet many good people that way. If things go well, try for a national leadership position. The point is to follow a logical path systematically building on your experience so as to do as well as possible at each step. Always keep in mind, that doing well is not only good for the organization but for you as a professional as well.
Gregory T. Frank
AIChE is fundamentally built and driven by volunteers. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about AIChE is that if there’s a call for volunteers just raise your hand you’ll find you’re off and running. Many opportunities are accessible if you attend any of AIChE’s meetings. Presenting work at AIChE meetings, attending programming planning meetings, volunteering for leadership responsibilities in areas that interest you, and just talking to people between sessions at any of the AIChE meetings will lead to opportunities. You’ll also find opportunities available closer to home through local sections and at the AIChE Young Professionals Community website or email ypc@aiche.org for info. If you reach out you’ll find many folks ready to accept your offer of help and gladly lend a hand to guide you as you seek out opportunities that appeal to you. In the process you’ll make many new contacts and friends.
I was fortunate enough to meet up with Shih Hsie Pan at one of the first AIChE Annual Meetings I attended. We found that we had a shared interest in expanding programming in process development. This quickly led to organizing new sessions, followed by organizing topical conferences, and eventually leading divisions. We certainly didn’t know what we were doing at the outset, but our enthusiasm combined with support from many others at AIChE allowed us to make a positive impact on AIChE at the same time we developed many friendships and leadership skills. Getting involved with the business of putting together programming for the AIChE Annual Meeting proved to be one of the best things I’ve done both professionally and personally. I’d encourage you to check out the on-line resources and talk to AIChE members to find the right opportunity for you.
Zenaida Otero Gephardt
AIChE’s Young Professionals is a great way to contribute to AIChE’s existing efforts and developing new ones (like the Global Competition). It is also an excellent way to meet, help and learn from other young professionals.
One of the most impactful ways in which a young professional can get more involved is through the local sections. Local sections are the foundation of the Institute and they are active in numerous efforts from technical presentations to K-12 outreach. Experienced AIChE members in local sections can serve as mentors and be a resource for young professionals. There are also many AIChE committees where young professionals can make strong contributions, especially in programming. For example, co-chairing sessions at meetings with an experienced AIChE member is an excellent way for young professionals to contribute, learn the Institute’s operations and meet a wide range of AIChE members and leaders.
Meagan Lewis
The best way to get more involved with AIChE is to see what your local section has to offer, specifically if there is a Young Professional section in your area. This is the best way to meet people your own age who come from a similar mentality with a desire to learn. They are also the best place to share nerdy science jokes! The Chicago Local section is where I first started my involvement with AIChE. First I was just attending local section speakers, helping with planning K-12 outreach events, and then becoming a regular leader in the local section.
If a local section is not available start by attending the virtual local section meetings and then jump right in to the AIChE world by attending a conference. Conferences are a great place to network in your own field of work or stop in on a talk about other topics that interest you. They are also a great place to volunteer for leadership roles - sometimes more than you expected!
Timothy O. Odi
Become an active member of your local chapter of AIChE and volunteer for services at its leadership level. Interest colleagues at work place into joining AIChE and become active in both the local chapter and national level. Volunteer for service in one or two committees at the national level, e.g. societal impact operating council, chemical technology operating council, etc. The reason for these suggestions is that AIChE depends on the voluntary services of its members for its many activities, from the AIChE president to committee memberships. You will not only gain in the knowledge of how the institute operates, but will increase your network opportunities within the organization for career advancement. So, get involved.
Joseph B. Powell
Simply volunteer! For me it was programming, starting as a session co-chair, then offering ideas to lead as session chair, and eventually becoming area and then division programming chair. At that level, it was necessary to interact with other divisions and forums, so that my network of contacts and interests was expanded. I was eventually asked to be topical chair, and meeting program chair. I always strove to make AIChE involvement a win-win with my company, using my personal time to volunteer and making up for any time spent at meetings by extra time in the lab or office. The extra time spent on my career was well worth it!
Edward M. Trujillo
The first step would be to learn about all the various programs, divisions and forums, committees and entities within AIChE and the organizational structure, starting with the Board of Directors and the various operating councils. Then the young professional should decide which entities fit in with his or her professional goals and service opportunities and get involved at the grass roots level and offer his/her experience and expertise. There are so many ways to be involved and to make a difference, from working with students and student chapters, both domestically and internationally, to working with local professional chapters and technical programming. Local professional chapters need the input from young professional chemical engineers to keep the chapter vibrant and relevant. But it is important for the young professional to make sure she/he has the time to do volunteer service to the institute and can fulfill any commitments he or she makes. Volunteer work has to fit in with your time obligations to your family and work.
Ranil Wickramasinghe
AIChE is a large and complex organization. The best way to become involved is to talk to other young professionals who are members. After graduating I moved to the Boston area where my involvement with AIChE began with the Ichthyologists (Boston Local Section). This then lead to my further involvement and eventually leadership positions in the national organization. The local section also helped me make many new contacts after I moved to the Boston area. If you have a strong local section try to contact the section and attend one of their meetings. If you do not live near an active local section, today AIChE has a very active virtual local section. Attending one of their meetings may be a good way to become involved with AIChE. If your colleagues at work are AIChE members and are actively involved with AIChE, talk to them. In my first job, one of my bosses was on the BOD and was keen to find new volunteers! The AIChE website has lots of information on the various operating councils, committees, divisions and forums. I became involved with the Separation Division through my work. If you have a chance to attend a Spring or Annual Meeting check the ancillary meeting schedule. This lists when the various committees etc. meet. Unless otherwise stated, these meeting are open to all members. As a graduate student I found AIChE Annual meetings interesting yet intimidating. I was keen to become more involved in AIChE but did not know where to begin. My experience is that by attending some of these committee meetings that seemed interesting, I discovered what really interested me. It may take a little looking around to find the ‘entity’ within AIChE that matches your interests.