Student Associations
Chemistry Club
The W&M Chemistry Club had another outstanding year! Receiving both Commendable and Green awards from the American Chemical Society for its organizational outreach and activities, the chapter continued to demonstrate excellence and resiliency in the turbulent Spring semester. During the 2019 Fall semester, we held our annual Halloween Magic Show,
which was an overall success with a Cinderella theme! We continued our outreach to the Girl Scouts, YMCA, Williamsburg Library, and other organizations to instill the love of science in others. We also did a lot of work to help promote diversity and equity in the sciences through our work with various on-campus organizations. While our traditional ice cream competition wasn’t able to occur in the Spring, the club continued to meet through Zoom and maintain a sense of community. We’re already running back on campus this semester and are figuring out new ways to spread our joy of Chemistry (sometimes virtually)!
NOBCChE
William & Mary’s local chapter of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) has worked to increase diversity in STEM at W&M by providing opportunities to students of all backgrounds. Under the leadership of Professor Dana Lashley, NOBCChE became an official chapter at William & Mary in Fall 2018 and was recognized at the National NOBCChE conference.
Over the past two years, NOBCChE has worked to increase the number of graduating Chemistry majors of color by developing programs to assist students in realizing their full professional potential in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and related disciplines at the College.
Our local chapter has built connections and shared opportunities for underrepresented populations across campus.
In November 2019, five students were awarded the "Advancing Science Grant" and presented their research at the National NOBCChE Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, to expand our outreach into the community, the group worked collaboratively with Lafayette Kids in order to provide mentorship to underrepresented students in the Greater Williamsburg area. W&M NOBCChE also partners with Campus Kitchen to bring children from low income families to the Integrated Science Center and share exciting chemistry demonstrations with them. Although NOBCChE has gone virtual for 2020, students will continue to share their love for Chemistry through the group’s annual participation in Physics Fest, which is now virtual, and other outreach events.
