2026 Jeannette Brown Lectureship
The Department of Chemistry celebrates the sixth annual Jeannette Brown Lectureship, generously sponsored by Sherwin-Williams.
Monday, March 16th
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Dr. Nicholas Ball, Activating Excellence Through Chemistry – 101 Fraser Hall, Zoom Link
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Martel Threadgill, My Personal Journey within Sherwin-Williams – 101 Fraser Hall, Zoom Link
5:00 p.m. – Group photo
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Reception – 1st Floor Fraser Hall Collaboration Space and Tutor Room. All members of the Chemistry community are welcome to join!
Tuesday, March 17th
9:45 – 11:00 a.m. – Dr. Nicholas Ball, Sulfur Fluoride Exchange (SuFEx) as a New Tool in Drug Discovery – 331 Smith Hall, Zoom Link
11:00 a.m. – Noon – Donald Betz and Victor Sousa, Innovating in a Corporate World – 331 Smith Hall, Zoom Link
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – Sherwin-Williams career panel with Dr. Brennan Billow, Dr. Catherine Serum, and Dr. Matt Bruzek – Kate and Michael Bárány Conference Room (117/119 Smith Hall), Zoom Link
2:45 – 4:45 p.m. – Student Flash Talks – 117/119 Smith Hall, 221 Smith Hall, and 101J Smith Hall. Flash talk schedule and abstracts are available for UMN users via the Department of Chemistry intranet. There are no central Zoom sessions for Flash talks.
This lectureship is generously sponsored by the Killilea family and by our corporate partner, Sherwin-Williams. Additional support is provided by contributions to the Jeannette Brown Lectureship Fund. Supporters can go to the Department of Chemistry’s giving page to donate.
The Department of Chemistry established the Jeannette Brown Lectureship to honor the career and legacy of one of its outstanding alumna. This lectureship will bring experts in all fields of chemistry from around the world to the University of Minnesota, with emphasis on highlighting the work and careers of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the chemical sciences. The lectureship reflects and celebrates the pioneering work of Jeannette Brown as a talented chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for 25 years, author, historian, and tireless leader and advocate for the inclusion and advancement of African American women in chemistry-related professional pursuits and careers.
