Lealon Martin Awarded AIChE Service Award
Lealon Marti
n, research fellow and lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering and juris doctoral candidate in the School of Law at The University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded the 2011 Minority Affairs Committee (MAC) Distinguished Service Award of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).
The award recognizes an AIChE member for sustained service and outstanding achievements that advance the goals of MAC, including reducing the underrepresentation of minorities in AIChE, the chemical engineering profession and engineering as a whole. He will be presented the award Oct. 17 at the 2011 AIChE Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minn.
“Over the last two decades, the AIChE has demonstrated a strong commitment towards increasing the number of underrepresented groups pursuing professional career paths in the STEM disciplines, with an emphasis on careers in chemical engineering,” said Martin. “The Minority Affairs Committee and the Minority Faculty Forum of the AIChE have been at the vanguard of this effort during that time, developing programs that facilitate a pipeline of professional development opportunities that range from K-12 programs to workshops for success in industry and academia.”
Martin is the principal investigator of the Martin Research Group which develops and applies mathematical modeling techniques toward the optimal design of complex chemical and biological systems. His research lies at the interface of systems engineering, public policy and legal theory – with the goal of innovating novel nature-inspired technologies and identifying robust solutions to critical issues of human need.
Martin served as chair of MAC in 2009 and as faculty advisor to the Rensselaer National Society of Black Engineers Student Chapter from 2003-09.
AIChE is the world’s leading organization for chemical engineering professionals, with more than 40,000 members from over 90 countries. AIChE has the breadth of resources and expertise allowing members to access information on recognized and promising chemical engineering processes and methods, a global network of intelligent, resourceful colleagues and their shared wisdom, and learning opportunities from recognized authorities.