Author: Melinda Box

MEMBER BENEFITS – Membership in the Division of Chemical Heath and Safety is a powerful tool for chemical health and safety professionals in industry, academia and government. Membership benefits include access to the DCHAS e-mail listserv. This diverse group is comprised of safety professionals (with a wide range of backgrounds and careers) who freely share their experiences, insight, and knowledge when members have questions and serve to mentor safety professionals to help ensure their success. You will also receive notice of papers to be presented and social events at National Meetings.

JOIN CHAS – You can join the Division at the ACS web site at https://home.acs.org/forms/s/technical-divisions?sc=1234

ACS Chemical Health and Safety Journal – you can receive it as a membership benefit by joining the ACS itself at the ACS membership website.

For more information, please contact the Membership Chair at membership@dchas.org.

DCHAS is a division of the American Chemical Society. We have about 1700 members and very active in partnering with other divisions and committees of the ACS, as well as sister organizations outside the ACS. We are also the parent division of the ACS Cannabis Subdivision.

Below is a powerpoint summary of the purpose of the Division and its activities. If you would like to share this in an oral presentation, we’ll be glad to share with you the powerpoint file for you to customize for this purpose. Contact membership@dchas.org for this file.

Vision Statement

Improving people’s lives through the power of best chemical health and safety practices

Mission Statement

The ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety provides authoritative technical resources and mentorship in chemical health and safety for all.

Administrative Information

• The 2021 DCHAS Administrative Manual is available here:  CHAS Admin Manual, March 2023
• Executive Committee Expense Report Jan 2025
• Clothing with the DCHAS logo is available from Land’s End. Connect to the DCHAS web store at https://business.landsend.com/store/chas/
• Tax Return documents:
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020

CHAS provides chemical safety professionals with professional development opportunities by working on Divisional activities. These opportunities enable members to stay up to date on emerging technical and cultural aspects of chemical safety while networking with peers nationally and globally. Many have found this work to an be important asset both for themselves and the stakeholders they work with. To get involved in the Division’s work, indicate your interest in specific opportunities in the form on this page.

Elected Officers

• 2026 Chair: Kalyani Martinelango, Dow Chemicals
• Chair Elect: Dwayne Henry, Montgomery College
• Past Chair, Chair of Nominating Committee:   Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc.
• Treasurer (term ending 2027): Mary Beth Koza, Univ of North Carolina (retired)
• Secretary (term ending 2028): Sandra Keyser, Merck
• Executive Committee Member‑at‑Large (term ending 2027): Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists
• Executive Committee Member-at-Large (term ending 2026): Kendra Denlinger, Xavier University
• ACS Councilor (term ending 2028): Debbie Decker, Univ of California, Davis (retired)
• ACS Councilor (term ending 2026): Frankie Wood-Black, Sophic Pursuits, Inc.
• Alternate ACS Councilor (term ending 2028): Sammye Sigma, Appalachian State Univ,  (retired)
• Alternate ACS Councilor (term ending 2026): Joe Pickel, Oak Ridge National Lab

Committee Chairs

• Audit Committee: Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc. and Kalyani Martinelango, Dow Chemicals, Dwayne Henry, Montgomery College, and Mary Beth Koza, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Awards Committee: Robin Izzo, Princeton University
• Cannibus Chemistry Subdivision: Kyle Boyar, Bio-Rad Laboratories
• Development Committee: Stephen Taylor, Lab Safety Institute
• Education Committee: Kendra Denlinger, Xavier University and Shannon Nephew, SUNY Plattsburgh
  • Professional Workshops: Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists
  • 2YC: Dwayne Henry, Montgomery College
  • Peer-led Workshops and Initiatives: Ranjana Burman, University of Conneticut
• International Activities (ad-hoc): Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc. and Robin Izzo, Princeton University
• Long Range Planning Committee: Sammye Sigmann, Appalachian State University (retired)
• Membership Committee: Amanda Chung, Univ of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 
• Nomination and Elections: Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc. and Kalyani Martinelango, Dow Chemicals, Dwayne Henry, Montgomery College
• Outreach Committee: Marta Guron, Univ of Pennsylvania
• Programming Committee: Debbie M. Decker, Univ of California, Davis (retired) and Monica Hensley, Beyond Benign
• Regional Meeting Committee: OPEN
• Social Committee: Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists

Liaisons

• ACS Division of Chemistry and the Law: Neal Langerman, Advanced Chemical Safety (retired) 
• ACS Journal of Chemical Health and Safety: Mary Beth Mulcahy, American Chemical Society
• ACS Safety Programs: Marta Gmurczyk, American Chemical Society
• American Industrial Hygiene Association: Bill Galdenzi, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers: Jerry Jones, Environmental Consultant
• Committee on International Affairs: Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc.
• Committee on Chemical Safety: Kendra Denlinger, Xavier Univ
• Division of Chemical Education: Dave Finster, Wittenberg Univ
• National Registry of Certified Chemists: Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists

CANN Subdivision

• Chair: Kyle Boyar, Bio-Rad Laboratories
• Past Chair: Melissa Wilcox, Regis Technologies
• Vice Chair: Jerry King, CFS-LLC
• Secretary: Hannah Yocum, Bucknell University
• Treasurer: Mary Beth Koza, Univ of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (retired)
• Awards Committee Chair: Jason Wilson, Tagleaf
• Programming Committee Chair: Evan Friedmann, Hellma USA, Inc & Scientific Cell Company
• Membership Committee Chair: Brandon Canfield, Northern Michigan Univ
• Development Committee Chair: Ezra Pryor, Windhorse Integrative Mental Health
• Senior Advisory Committee Chair: Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists
• Publication Committee Chair: Twinkle Paryani, Abstrax Tech, Inc
• Public Relations Committee Chair: Codi Peterson, Univ of California, Irvine

Leadership History