Welcome remarks from the Chair and vision for 2026
It is an honor to serve as Chair of the AIChE Management Division for 2026, and I am grateful for the strong foundation laid by those who came before me. My sincere appreciation goes to Senyo Opong (Past Chair), whose leadership and dedication made 2025 a year of meaningful growth and progress for our Division. I am equally thankful to the outgoing officers and board members for their valuable contributions over the past year.
I look forward to working alongside our team, including Irene Legiec (Vice Chair), Roman Ventura (Secretary), Fernando J. Aguirre (Treasurer), Senyo Opong (Past Chair), and our Directors, Rashi Tiwari, Christina Schwarzbach, Chang Dou, Belma Erdogan-Haug, Aaron Parr, and John El Berch, as well as our dedicated volunteers. Together, we will work to advance the Division's mission by fostering leadership, promoting meaningful discussions, and strengthening engagement within the AIChE community.
What's Ahead in 2026?
In 2025, the Division established a solid strategic foundation through better defined committees, expanded programming, a growing online presence, and stronger cross-division collaboration. Our goal in 2026 is to build thoughtfully on that progress. The following four priorities will guide our efforts:
Deepening Collaborations Across the AIChE Community
The Management Division is well positioned to collaborate across the AIChE community. The principles of leadership, strategy, and organizational effectiveness that define our work are broadly applicable across technical disciplines and industry sectors, making partnerships with other divisions a natural and productive pursuit. Previous Chairs have demonstrated the value of these connections, from collaborations with the Young Professionals Committee and the Institute for Learning and Innovation (ILI) under Aditi Khadilkar, to joint programming with the Early Career Committee (ECC) under Senyo Opong. In 2026, we will build on this history and expand our partnerships further. Discussions are already underway with the Women in Chemical Engineering (WIC) community, the Minority Affairs Committee (MAC), and the Global Chemical Engineering and Process Safety (GCPS) group, and we look forward to the outcomes of these conversations. We will also continue to support industry-academia partnerships, recognizing the Division's long-standing role in applying modern management practices to broader professional and societal challenges.
New Initiatives to Strengthen Member Engagement
Our existing initiatives have shown encouraging results. Webinars, office hours, and project-based mentoring have attracted new participants and helped foster professional connections within our community. In 2026, we aim to grow these programs through increased volunteer involvement. Greater volunteer participation will allow us to offer more webinar topics, additional office hour sessions, and a broader mentoring program. We are also exploring new initiatives to provide further opportunities for member engagement and professional development. Our programming will continue to address themes that are most relevant to our members today, including leadership in the context of advancing technology, organizational change, and the growing emphasis on sustainability across our profession. We welcome input from our members on programs or activities that would add value to their experience in the Division.
Empowered Committees Driving Consistent Results
Well-functioning committees are central to the Division's effectiveness, and the progress made in 2025 reflects this. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities helped drive meaningful growth in Division activities last year, and we will continue to build on this in 2026. A priority this year is expanding committee membership to ensure each team has adequate capacity to carry out its work. The Programming and Awards Committees remain central to our yearly activities, supporting our technical sessions, recognition programs, and member experiences. The Communications and Marketing Committee plays an important role in broadening the reach of these efforts within and beyond the AIChE community. We will continue to develop our social media presence and explore additional channels to increase the Division's visibility. Members interested in contributing are encouraged to reach out, and we will work to identify a suitable role for them.
Welcoming Interested Members and Following Up
Sustained membership growth requires deliberate and consistent outreach. When an individual expresses interest in the Management Division, it is important that we follow up in a timely and welcoming manner. Each new member brings perspectives and contributions that strengthen the Division, and failing to follow up represents a missed opportunity for both the individual and the community. In 2026, we will make a concerted effort to reach out to those who have expressed interest, connect them with the appropriate contacts, and support their integration into the Division. We encourage all current members to consider who in their professional networks might benefit from joining, and to help facilitate those introductions. A growing and engaged membership is fundamental to the Division's long-term strength.
Thank you for your continued involvement and support. I look forward to a productive year and welcome your ideas and feedback as we work together to advance the mission of the AIChE Management Division.
Udit Gupta
AIChE Management Division Chair 2026
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