Samuella Sigmann, Chemistry, was recently awarded the Tillman's-Skolnick Award from the American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Health & Safety (ACS CHAS) for her "outstanding and prolonged service to the Division".
For the last three years Ms. Sigmann has been managing the administrative manual for the Division, and is currently serving as Chair of their Long Range Planning Committee. The administrative manual contains bylaws and issuances on how the Division is organized and functions. In total, Ms. Sigmann has been working with the Division for the last six years, and has also organized a symposium, presented papers and workshops for CHAS at ACS National Conferences, and participated in the Division's strategic planning meeting last summer.
On winning this award Ms. Sigmann noted, "I was really surprised, I had no idea. The validation that the Division appreciates the maintenance of the manual and that this is a necessary component of of the executive committee, was significant for me."
Ms. Sigmann also served as a core member on an ACS Committee on Chemical Safety (CCS) task force that was organized in 2011 to address national concerns about chemical safety and the physical hazards of chemicals in academic research labs. The task force created the document, "Identifying and Evaluating Hazards in Research Laboratories," which has been heavily referenced and utilized nationally.
The American Chemical Society is the largest scientific society in the world and supports the study and advancement of Chemistry through education, advocacy, support and promotion of those who practice, study and teach chemistry.
Ms. Samuella Sigmann started school at Appalachian in 1975 and obtained her BS and MA degrees from Appalachian. She has been active in chemical hygiene since 2004, and has over 27 years of chemical teaching experience. In 2006, she was recognized for safety improvements by the local Sigma XI Chapter with their, "outstanding Service to Research Award." In 2007, she became a certified Chemical Hygiene Officer through the National Registry of Certified Chemists (NRCC) and in 2011, she obtained a MS in Occupational Health & Safety with a concentration in Environmental Management
She is currently a Senior Lecturer in the A. R. Smith Department of Chemistry, the Director of the Chemistry Stockroom, and the departmental Chemical Hygiene Officer. She has developed a web-based application for safety training delivery.
Ms. Sigmann will be presented with the award at the CHAS Award Symposium during the fall ACS National Meeting taking place in Philadelphia this August.