Leadership: The heart of the American Chemical Society and the future of chemistry

Over the past 150 years, the American Chemical Society has grown from 35 chemists in New York to a thriving global membership community of over 200,000 individuals. We strive to improve all people's lives through the transforming power of chemistry. As the newly elected chair of the ACS Board of Directors, I have been reflecting on the key factors resulting in our longevity and how we can ensure a vibrant, successful future for ACS over the coming centuries. I truly believe we are here today because of ACS's long-standing commitment to chemistry and to the development of our members as leaders. Throughout its history, ACS has dedicated significant resources to fostering leadership throughout the global chemistry enterprise, and I am happy to report that this commitment remains strong. Beginning with our founding, we recognized that leadership starts locally through opportunities to serve at the local section level. This recognition has