Everyone, including ARCS Foundation National leaders, knows the phrase, “A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.” The words were published in 1786 in Thomas Reid’s “Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man.”

ARCS National leaders are focusing this year on strengthening the leadership and effectiveness of the organization’s 15 chapters that span across the U.S. Each chapter works with its own leadership, members, approved partner universities, and donors to achieve the mission of supporting young scientists as they pursue degrees in scientific fields, thereby feeding the innovation pipeline in the U.S.

The National Council of Advisors (CoA) specifically aims to support chapters this year. Longtime ARCS Member and scientist Susan Smith leads the CoA.  Like all members of the CoA, Smith has served in leadership at both the Chapter and National levels.

Smith, an Oregon Chapter member, earned her PhD in Physiology from the University of Georgia and was a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University. Her research focused on brain regulation of food intake, energy balance, and reproductive function.  

“Being a member of ARCS has allowed me to pay back to graduate students in biomedical research. I owe so much to the many graduate students I trained in neuroscience. They were the best and were so critical to the research contributions made by my laboratory,” Smith says. “I know so well how important it is to have extra financial support for their graduate careers.” 

The Council of Advisors will work this year towards:

• Chapter Support: develop a process for visiting and supporting chapters and using CoA as mentors,
• National Collaborative Networks: serve as representatives on each of the seven Networks that focus on specific work areas
• New Chapter Development: work with the new Organization Growth Committee to explore expansion opportunities, including new chapter creation
• Nominating Committee: serve on the committee and support critical leadership succession planning at the National level.

The other members of the Council of Advisors are:

Stephanie Beckman, Orange County

Christy Burton, Phoenix

Donna Casey, Northern California

Linda Celesia, Illinois

Nancy Chamber, Atlanta

Sue Dintelman, Utah

Sarah Dunnam, Seattle

Sue Harter, Pittsburgh

Ann Hill, San Diego

Patty Lee, Honolulu

Sherry Lundeen, Atlanta

Sandra Matteucci, Phoenix

Sally McDaniel, Atlanta

Yolanda Walther-Meade, Los Angeles/San Diego

Caron Ogg, Oregon

Andi Purple, Metro Washington

Cristina Thomas, Minnesota

Janie Wilson, Atlanta