Natalie LaFranzo, Chair-elect of the St Louis Local Section, has been appointed Chair of the national Younger Chemists Committee (YCC), serving in 2016. Natalie became involved with the Committee in 2012, when she won a Leadership Development Award to attend the annual Young Leaders track at the ACS Leadership Development Institute in Dallas. In 2014 and 2015, Natalie served as Chair of the Communications subcommittee.
Natalie LaFranzo
Natalie is eager to improve communications between the YCC and other Divisions and Committees of the Society, expand YCC programming at national meetings, and engage young chemists to become active within the Society, to ultimately benefit themselves, their peers, and the ACS at large.
About the YCC
The Younger Chemists Committee advocates for and provides resources to early-career chemists and professionals in the chemical sciences and related fields. The YCC addresses specific issues facing younger chemists within the ACS and serves as a voice to the Society on behalf of younger chemists.
Established in 1974, the YCC is a joint Board-Council committee of the ACS consisting of thirty-three members and associates. Along with its many alumni, the committee represents a wide range of industrial, governmental, and academic fields and serves as the voice of younger chemists in the ACS. Committee associates and members are appointed for one- or three-year terms by the ACS President and Chairman of the Board and may be reappointed until the age of 35. During their term on the YCC, members and associates may choose to serve on various subcommittees and task forces.
The YCC meets twice per year at national ACS meetings, sponsors programs targeted at younger chemists at national and regional ACS meetings, organizes and mentors local section YCCs, maintains the YCC website as a communication tool and information resource, publishes the YCC newsletter, and represents the younger chemists within the ACS governing organization.
