We are thrilled to announce that graduate student, Julia M. Dressel, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Jonathan L. Sessler Graduate Student Leadership Award. Julia's remarkable achievement was celebrated on May 7th 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.
We are pleased to recognize Julia for her outstanding contributions to the Department of Chemistry and the broader scientific community. Since 2022, she has volunteered as a Mentor, Outcomes Officer, and Workshops Coordinator for the FAST (Future Advancers of Science and Technology) program, guiding high school students from underserved areas on independent research projects and delivering workshops on scientific skills and college applications.
Julia has also been a mentor in the IFSS (Inspiring Future Leaders Through Shadowing) program, leading small groups of high school students in the labs. As the Natural Science Cluster Program Lead in the Stanford WINGS (Wellness Information Network for Graduate Students) Program and a graduate student representative in the Chemistry Department, she has further demonstrated her commitment to supporting our graduate community.
In addition to serving as the Head TA Trainer and Assistant Head TA Trainer, Julia has been a key figure in our Chemistry Safety Program as the Lab Safety Coordinator. Her leadership in safety training has been vital in promoting a safe working environment for all.
Julia has been an active member of ACS, where she was a Symposium presider at the ACS Fall 2025 National Meeting.
In the words of her advisor, Professor Robert Waymouth, Julia is a “superb scientist, an outstanding educator, and has excelled in several leadership roles at Stanford…For Julia, science and service are not a job, but a passion. Few dare to be great; Julia does so with understated excellence, a fierce yet humble devotion to her science, her students and coworkers, and a supportive and generous spirit that inspires and encourages both her students and colleagues. ”
Julia 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)
- 2024 - Ashley P. Saunders
Other graduate students nominated for this year’s Sessler Graduate Student Leadership Award in Chemistry include:
Chris Codogni, David Dumas, Jordyn Smith, Joshua Lui, Ricky Hage, Robert Kennedy, and Shadler Nguyen.
Congratulations to all!