Previous Leadership
Moana Khan
SAACS President, 2019-2020
“Through my years in the chemistry department, I had always been enthusiastic about SAACS as I saw it combining chemistry, camaraderie, and competency. Members were enthusiastic about chemistry and all that it could contribute to industry, the environment, and overall technological innovation and hoped to share and develop these interests with other students.
SAACS was truly a memorable experience through the challenges it presented combined with ever-changing team dynamics. From providing opportunities for students to gain insight and connections to professionals in academia, industry, or alternative fields to having fun explaining exploring the science behind chemistry demos to highlighting research, I believe SAACS provides enrichment for up-and-coming chemists. Being able to serve and give back to the community through gifting grants and participating in other volunteering events also felt fulfilling. Joining SAACS was a great way to develop connections in and out of the chemistry department, foster professional networks, and develop time management skills, amongst other notable abilities. Not to mention, the friendships I’ve forged along the way are invaluable to me even beyond graduation.”
Hala Daghlas
SAACS President, 2018-2019
Katherine Greskovitch
SAACS President, 2017-2018
Katie is currently a PhD candidate in inorganic chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where under Prof. Cathy Murphy she is exploring newer, stronger functional ligand coatings for gold nanoparticles.
“When I was president of SAACS, I got the chance to explore my passions of science, research, and community service in one setting. I loved the executive board I worked with and still have lasting friendships from my time there that lasted long after graduation (I’m actually marrying one of them!). During my time as president, we developed projects and events that made the group expand rapidly. The ability of our group to identify needs within our department and community and then rise to meet those needs, from professional society connections to end-of-semester group study parties to developing a grant to provide funds to science classrooms in Portage County, gave me a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that not much else has ever given me. I was able to leverage my connections and experience from SAACS to launch me into graduate school, where I still seek to make people’s lives better through science. The confidence, leadership, and community I gained during my time have served me since I left Kent State and will continue to serve me for the rest of my life.”
Heather Andro
SAACS President, 2016-2017
Heather is currently employed as a research technician at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute and will start the PharmD program at the NEOMED College of Pharmacy in Fall 2019.
“Starting at Kent my freshman year with a major in chemistry was extremely exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. People would always comment saying things like ‘that’s a really difficult degree’ and I felt that the best way for me to overcome those nerves was to make friends and connections within the chemistry community at Kent State. What better way to do that than joining the chemistry student organization? SAACS allowed me to meet people in and out of the chemistry department who all shared the common interest of science. It made it possible for me to make connections with faculty and learn the ins and outs of the department and university. We always had fun and it was really empowering being able to promote awareness of the strong impact chemistry can make to the department, university, and community.
I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without everything I learned being a member of SAACS and the connections I made along the way.”
Mary Waddington
SAACS President, 2015-2016
Mary is a PhD candidate in materials chemistry at UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She works for Dr. Alex Spokoyny, primarily with the goal of elucidating new imaging techniques for biomolecules.
“I really enjoyed the outreach aspect of SAACS - I feel it really made chemistry more tangible to the Kent community which was incredibly rewarding.
I also felt SAACS helped make connections within the department and other local chemistry departments. These connections have been invaluable in the years leading up to and following graduation.”
Kayla Ivey
SAACS President, 2014-2015
Kayla is currently employed as an R&D Formulation Scient ist at GOJO Industries, Inc., in Akron, OH. She uses skills she learned in college to formulate hand sanitizer, soap, and lotion.
“What I enjoyed most about SAACS was being surrounded by people who enjoyed chemistry as much as I do. SAACS helped me gain the confidence to present my research at the March 2015 ACS National Conference in Denver, CO. SAACS also helped me use professors and faculty as technical and professional mentors, some of whom I still keep in contact with today.”
Raphael Ryan
SAACS President, 2013-2014
Raphael is a PhD candidate at the University of Kentucky, studying the applications of metal - primarily ruthenium - complexes for light-activated chemotherapeutics.
“I really enjoyed bringing in professors or scientists from industry to give talks to the department. I feel it’s important for students to have opportunities to meet and interact with accomplished scientists. It’s inspirational/motivational to see new science and see what kinds of career paths are available for those who work hard.
I also enjoyed helping organize and run the poster session for graduate and undergraduate students. The session was a good way to highlight all the good work that was being done in the department.”
Sonya K. Adas, Ph.D.
SAACS President, 2012-2013
Education: B.Sc., Ohio Northern University; Ph.D., Kent State University; National Research Council Post-Doctoral Fellowship Recipient, served at the Air Force Academy
Dr. Adas is a Development Engineer/Chemist at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
“Being a part of starting the KSU SAACS is one of my favorite and most worthwhile achievements to date!"
At my undergraduate institution, Ohio Northern University (ONU), the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department had a very active student ACS chapter which had a huge influence on most, if not all, of the students majoring in a chemistry-related discipline. It served as a way for students to get to know each other and our professors on a more personal basis, to connect with the larger chemistry community and to reach the community by encouraging kids to understand the importance of science, and that science can be fun!
As a graduate student at Kent State, I happened to meet a visiting professor who had an office next door to mine. She was an active member of the local ACS section in Akron, and we would chat often about our ACS connections and the importance we both found in the society. She, along with the immense positive impact the ONU student ACS group had on my undergraduate experience, inspired me to help re-activate the student chapter at Kent. With her help, the help of another full-time faculty member, and a great group of KSU chemistry and biology undergraduate students, we started a legacy that will continue to impact undergraduate students the same way I was once influenced. Ultimately, the undertaking was a huge team effort and it was possible because of the energetic and talented undergraduate students that served on the first and second SAACS boards.
The experience taught me a great deal about myself which steered my career in a totally unexpected direction. It also allowed me to expand my professional network within the ACS which has directly impacted my professional success (and continues to do so!). When we decided to bring this group to life, I did not anticipate that it would invigorate a passion for mentoring students in more than a technical capacity. The experience also helped me to learn about leadership from a different perspective, and these lessons have stuck with me into my current career as an industry chemist. Mentoring people in technical skills, leadership aptitude and personal development are a crucial part of being a contributor in an industry lab - really in any professional landscape.
The most rewarding aspect of being a part of starting the current KSU SAACS group is watching how it has evolved and grown over the years. The KSU Chemistry Department was changed in an extremely positive way, and serves its students beyond the classroom on the SAACS platform. The group has continued to be even more successful because of the positive and strong leadership and teamwork that it continues to maintain.”