Joseph S. Francisco

In 2009, Joseph S. Francisco became the second African American to be elected president of the American Chemical Society. Also former president of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Francisco is the William E. Moore Distinguished Professor at Purdue University. He has published more than 400 journal articles, written nine book chapters, co-authored the textbook Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics, and served on numerous national science councils. Francisco's recent achievements include an appointment by President Barack Obama to the distinguished National Medal of Science Committee and an honorary doctor of science degree from Tuskegee University. In his acceptance speech during the annual George Washington Carver Convocation, Francisco remarked:

"When I look at the achievements of George Washington Carver and other great African American chemists . they are models of achievement and success. When you take a closer look at their achievements, you understand something about the meaning of opportunity; about hard work, sacrifice, determination; and about the struggle to achieve. You also learn about the importance of their contributions to making the lives of others better."

Francisco earned a B.S. in chemistry from The University of Texas, Austin, in 1977, and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983.