We are thrilled to announce that graduate student, Ashley P. Saunders, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Jonathan L. Sessler Graduate Student Leadership Award. Ashley's remarkable achievement was celebrated on April 10th during the Biennial Sessler Distinguished Alumni Lectureship Series.
Established in honor of esteemed alumnus Professor Jonathan L. Sessler, Ph.D. '82, the Sessler Award is bestowed biennially upon an exceptional graduate student who demonstrates exemplary leadership and service within the Department of Chemistry.
Ashley is recognized as a transformative agent, earning admiration from her peers as a catalyst for positive change. As President of the NOBCChE chapter at Stanford and a graduate student assistant for Joseph Brown, our Assistant Dean of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Education, Ashley has left an indelible mark on our community. Her commitment to fostering diversity in STEM fields is inspiring, and her impact extends beyond her academic pursuits.
Acknowledged for her outstanding contributions to laboratory safety with the Chemistry Department's Star Award, Ashley is hailed by her faculty advisor, Fang Liu, as a standout member of our lab. Fang remarks, "Ashley's leadership is profound, evident in her management of lab operations and her dedication to mentoring students. Her genuine kindness and unwavering support for others set her apart. Ashley, your leadership is truly inspiring, and we are privileged to have you in our lab. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition."
Ashley joins an esteemed lineage of past recipients of the Jonathan L. Sessler Graduate Student Leadership Award including:
- 2009 - Sam Lord (Moerner)
- 2011 - Christina Cooley (Wender)
- 2013 - Lucien Weiss (Moerner)
- 2015 - Jessica Vargas (Wender)
- 2017 –Katherine Walker (Waymouth & Zare)
- 2019 - Jen Hope (B. Cui)
- 2021 - Dory DeWeese (Solomon)