Embracing the glorious diversity of ACS

Abstract

In her final remarks as first lady, Michelle Obama said, “Our glorious diversity—our diversities of faiths and colors and creeds—that is not a threat to who we are; it makes us who we are.” The American Chemical Society has a varied and diverse membership, and when we embrace this diversity and conscientiously include all chemists and ACS members in the chemical enterprise, we make the whole chemical enterprise stronger. This quotation from Obama calls out faiths, colors, and creeds, but there are many other facets of diversity as well, such as gender. The ACS Women Chemists Committee (WCC) is focused on gender inclusion, but when we work toward a more inclusive environment for women, we create a more inclusive environment overall. WCC’s vision is “Empowering women throughout the chemical enterprise.” However, our mission is even more inclusive: “to attract, retain, develop, promote, and advocate for women to positively impact diversity,