Back row (L–R): Telly Lovelace (ACC), Kimberly Wise White, Ph.D. (ACC), Chris Jahn (ACC), Zoe Brown (FOSSI scholar), Dawson Bates (FOSSI scholar), Lyle Williams (FOSSI scholar), Dana Miller (ACC), Michael Tilghman (ACC), Cassandra Collins (ACC), Jennifer Taylor (ACC).
Front row (L–R): Chloe Maignan (FOSSI scholar), Kesiena Umukoro (FOSSI scholar), Jeslyn Hunter (FOSSI scholar), Khamari Reid (FOSSI scholar).
Last week, the American Chemistry Council (ACC), a founding FOSSI partner and sponsor of the program, welcomed seven FOSSI scholars to Washington, D.C. for two days of professional development, leadership conversations, and firsthand exposure to career pathways in the chemical industry.
The visit also gave scholars and ACC mentors the opportunity to connect in person. While mentors regularly engage with scholars through check-ins and ongoing conversations throughout the year, the visit allowed those relationships to deepen through shared experiences, discussions, and direct exposure to industry leaders.
The scholars participating in the visit included:
- Chloe Maignan, Hampton University, Chemical Engineering
- Khamari Reid, Savannah State University, Biology
- Jeslyn Hunter, Spelman College, Biology
- Lyle Williams, Prairie View A&M University, Electrical Engineering (May 2026 Graduate)
- Dawson Bates, Hampton University, Biology
- Kesiena Umukoro, Xavier University of Louisiana, Biology
- Zoe Brown, Southern University A&M College, Biology
Exploring careers in the chemical industry
The visit connected scholars directly with ACC leadership and industry experts, highlighting the innovation, advocacy, safety, and career opportunities shaping the future of STEM.
ACC President & CEO Chris Jahn welcomed scholars at the start of the visit, encouraging them to stay open to new opportunities and perspectives as they explore the many ways STEM careers can shape industries, communities, and the future.
“This is not your grandfather’s chemical industry,” Chris Jahn said. “The chemical industry has made significant progress in safety and environmental performance, and we continue working to improve over time.”
He also pushed scholars to think about the scale of what a career in the industry could mean.
“If you want to change the world, this is the industry to do it,” Chris Jahn said. “Our members and partners are engineering the future.”
Throughout the visit, scholars engaged with ACC leaders from across the organization, covering communications, economics, advocacy, plastics, and Responsible Care®, ACC’s world-class environmental, health, safety, and security initiative.
For FOSSI scholars preparing to enter STEM careers, discussions surrounding Responsible Care® highlighted the importance of safety, innovation, and continuous improvement across the chemical industry, while demonstrating how science and leadership work together to help build trust and create positive impact.
Mentorship and professional development
Some of the visit's most valuable moments came directly from the mentor relationships at the core of the FOSSI experience, with ACC mentors offering guidance on navigating careers, colleagues, and professional relationships. "Everyone thinks differently, so be open to how others think,” said Michael Tilghman, Assistant General Counsel at ACC and FOSSI mentor. “That’s what allows you to truly understand people. The ability to listen, collaborate, and learn from different perspectives is what helps teams grow and succeed.”
Scholars also participated in professional development workshops led by Leigh Warfield, Senior Director of Human Resources at ACC, covering resume building, networking, and career readiness. Warfield encouraged scholars to stay curious and confident as they prepare to enter the workforce, leaving students with words of encouragement and practical direction:
“Get involved in clubs and organizations that show you’re engaged in your school community and willing to step outside your comfort zone. Build the skills that make you stand out, including critical thinking, communication, self-awareness, adaptability, and a willingness to learn.”
Scholars also dug into more technical topics. When Chloe Maignan asked whether increased recycling participation could help strengthen recycling systems and reduce plastic waste, Ross Eisenberg, President of America’s Plastic Makers®, walked the group through the U.S. recycling system and the growing role of advanced recycling technologies in recovering more materials and reducing waste.
The exchange reflected exactly what the visit was designed to encourage: a future chemical engineer engaging directly with an industry leader to better understand the future of the chemical industry.
Connecting STEM, history, and leadership
Beyond ACC engagement, the group visited the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, beginning their tour at At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs, an exhibition featuring more than 100 artifacts, artworks, and documents preserved by five historically Black colleges and universities: Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, Texas Southern University, and Tuskegee University. For scholars attending HBCUs, the exhibit offered a powerful reminder of the educational legacy they are part of, and the history they are now helping to write.
ACC's continued investment in workforce development and STEM education reflects the kind of partnership that makes the FOSSI experience possible. Beyond the exposure to industry leaders and career pathways, the visit strengthened the mentor relationships that are at the heart of what FOSSI does. Through shared experiences and candid conversations, scholars connected more deeply with the ACC mentors who walk alongside them as they pursue their degrees and build their careers, helping them grow in confidence, expand their networks, and see themselves clearly in the future of the chemical industry and beyond.
Join us in shaping the future of STEM. Discover how your company can create a lasting impact on tomorrow's leaders as a FOSSI sponsor.