Vanderbilt University’s Renã Robinson Is Leading a National Organization of Black Chemists

Renã A.S. Robinson, associate professor of chemistry and Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips Chancellor Faculty Fellow at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, has been named president of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE).

Founded in 1972, NOBCChE is a nonprofit professional organization that assists Black and other minority students and professional chemists to realize their full career potential. Dr. Robinson will also be working with the executive board of NOBCChE to fund a $1 million endowment to sustain the organization for years to come.

“Following the footsteps of former NOBCChE presidents, I will focus on ensuring the legacy of NOBCChE through strengthening organizational infrastructure, enhancing student and professional membership value, expanding organizational partnerships, and growing NOBCChE’s footprint nationally and internationally,” Dr. Robinson said. “I am excited to serve the organization and continue the efforts to build upon an eminent cadre of successful, diverse global leaders in STEM.”

Professor Robinson joined the faculty at Vanderbilt University in 2017 after teaching at the University of Pittsburgh. A graduate of the University of Louisville, Dr. Robinson holds a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Indiana University.