50 Making a Difference profile: Elizabeth A. Nalley, Cameron

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Sep 26, 2008

Those who can - do, and they also teach, at least if you're Dr. Elizabeth Nalley. Serving as a chemistry professor at Cameron University for the past 39 years is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Nalley's influence on past and future generations.

"Dr. Nalley has been a passionate, enduring mentor not only to me, but to thousands of students locally, nationally and internationally," said Heather Rhoads, Ph.D. graduate student at the University of Oklahoma.

Nalley's background includes many "firsts." She was the first woman ever to be named a full professor at Cameron. On the international stage, she is the first Oklahoman and only the fifth woman to serve as president of the American Chemical Society (ACS), which is the largest scientific society in the world and includes members in industry, academia, engineering and government.

As president of the ACS, Nalley testified before Congress on issues related to science and science education, and also served as ACS ambassador to many foreign countries, speaking on science- and education-related topics.

Her work on the international stage continues through her position on the governing board of Pacifichem, an international committee representing countries that border on the Pacific Ocean. She is the architect and speaker of many international meetings, designed to establish working relationships between scientists, with the long-term goal of influencing their respective governments toward peace.

Nalley earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry from Northeastern Oklahoma State University, her master's in chemistry from Oklahoma State University, and her Ph.D. in chemistry from Texas Women's University in Denton. In addition to her professorship duties at Cameron, she has served as a visiting scientist at the University of Oklahoma, the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Nalley has also served as president and member of the board of directors for Phi Kappa Phi, the largest interdisciplinary honor society in the world, and received the distinguished research award from Iota Sigma Phi, the national honor society for women in chemistry.

"Although she has been a champion of these events since early in her career, most of her contributions focus entirely on or have a heavy emphasis on diversity and career opportunities for women and mentoring activities for both men and women," Rhoads said.

And despite her heavy national and international involvement, Nalley hasn't ignored her local students. In 1978 she organized the ACS Student Affiliated Chapter at Cameron University, and that chapter has since been recognized many times at the state and national levels. She encourages her students to present and speak at local and national meetings, often helping then to design posters, secure travel funds and pay registrations.

Younger students have benefited as well. For the past 25 years, Nalley and her Cameron students have operated Chem Quest, a Saturday program for gifted and talented sixth-grade students. Each year approximately 120 sixth-grade science students attend Cameron to learn more about chemistry and perform hands-on laboratory exercises. This is the first opportunity many of these students have to learn about the chemical profession.

About Elizabeth:

Spouse: Robert L. Mullican (retired from Federal Aviation Administration)

Birthplace: Catron, Mo.

Children: George Robert Mullican

Grandchildren: Two grandsons

Pets: Maintain a pet refuge for more than 40 displaced animals

Hobbies: Gardening

First Job: Teaching high school

Dream Job: College professor

Favorite type of food: Tex-Mex

Favorite type of music: Country & Western

Favorite vacation spot: Rome, Italy