Ex officio (Philadelphia Section). Retired, National Federation of Advanced Information Services, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Academic record: Chestnut Hill College, BS, 1966; St. Joseph’s University, MS, 1976; University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, MBA, 1989; INSEAD, MBA Update Program, 1993.
Professional positions: Retired, National Federation of Advanced Information Services, 2014; Executive Director, 2002-2014.
ACS local section and division offices: Division of Chemical Information: Archivist/Historian, 2010-present; Councilor, 1992-2024; Chair, 1989; Chair-Elect, 1988; Secretary, 1984-87; Corresponding Secretary, 1982; Editor, Chemical Information Bulletin, 1977-1983; Program Committee, 1976-78.
ACS national service: District Director, District III and Ex Officio Councilor, 2024-present; Council Policy Committee Caucus Task Force, 2026; Committee on Audits and Risk Management, Member, 2025-present; Committee on Pensions and Investments, Member, 2024-present; Committee on Public Affairs and Public Relations, Member, 2024-25; Committee on Strategic Alignment, Member, 2024-25; Committee on Fiscal Affairs, Member, 2018-2023, Committee Associate, 2000-2002; Committee on Committees, Member, 2012-2017, Secretary, 2015-2017; Council Policy Committee, Member, 2006-2011, 1997-98, Member (Nonvoting), 1999; Committee on Nominations and Elections, Member, 2000-05, Secretary, 2001; Board Task Force on Technical Programming, Member, 1998; Committee on Divisional Activities, Chair, 1997-1999, Member, 1994-99; Advisory Board for Industry Relations, Member, 1997-99; Committee on Copyrights, Chair, 1993-95, Member, 1990-98; Committee Associate, 1989; ACS Books Advisory Board, Member, 1991-94; Presidential Task Force on Council Electronic Communication, Member, 1991.
Member: Member of ACS since 1972. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Executive Committee, 2024-present; U.S. National Committee for IUPAC, Vice-Chair, 2020-22; IUPAC Bureau, 2014-19; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Association for Information Science and Technology; Chemical Structure Association Trust, Board of Trustees, 1996-present, Secretary, 2002-present, Chair Grants Committee, 2002-present; LYRASIS, Board of Trustees, 2008-2014; Board of The Philosopher’s Index, 2004-present. ACS Divisions: Chemical Information.
Related activities and honors: Chestnut Hill College, Libris Society, inducted 2025; Chemical Information Division (CINF) Lifetime Achievement Award, 2015; NFAIS Honorary Fellow, 2014; ACS Fellow, 2013; CINF Division Merit Service Award, 2006.
Lawlor’s statement
First, I want to thank the American Chemical Society District III community for allowing me to serve you over the past two years. It has been both an honor and a privilege, providing an experience that I will treasure for years to come. Thanks to you, I have benefited personally and professionally, and I believe that I have been able to return the favor, actively working to move the ACS forward in ways that will benefit both members and the society as we move beyond its 150th anniversary year and look to the future.
Service. During my first two years on the ACS Board of Directors, I was an active participant in the development of the ACS’s 2025-29 strategic plan—a plan that I strongly support because it emphasizes the core values that have been instilled in me by the teachers, mentors, and colleagues who have guided me during my fifty-plus years of service to the society: scientific integrity, life-long learning, the sharing and advancement of knowledge, and the creation of a global community that is inclusive to all who support a world built on science. I have been able to use my business skills by serving on both the Audit Committee and the Pensions and Investment Committee to help ensure the financial sustainability of the society. And I have served as a member of the Committee on Public Affairs and Public Relations which resulted in a visit to Capitol Hill in June 2025 to meet with Senators and House Representatives to help reinforce why science funding is of critical importance, not only to the US economy, but also to its position as a leader in innovation and healthcare. This was my first visit to speak on the Hill and it was a rather daunting experience, but it is one that I will repeat later this year. The experience convinced me that reaching out to our legislators is something that we all need to do, and I encourage you to participate in ACS’s Act4Chemistry program.
The future of ACS. Today ACS and we as chemists operate in a world that is different from that of even ten years ago. Digital science continues to reshape the environment within which the chemistry enterprise operates. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, etc. are no longer the stuff of science fiction—they are the reality of science. Today, successful research demands collaboration across multiple scientific disciplines. Research is global and multicultural in nature, and scientific communication has become dynamic and non-traditional, with collaborative writing, data sharing, and interactive commentary being the norm. How are these changes impacting the members of District III and their employers? What is the impact across the entire society, and is the next generation of chemists being effectively trained to succeed in this new world? If re-elected I want to continue to focus on these questions. We are at a pivotal point in our society as we begin our journey beyond 150 years. What do we collectively need to do to help ACS navigate the challenges of today and the future?
Fortunately, change creates opportunities, and I believe that with a continued focus on the four C’s—Community, Communication, Collaboration, and Careers—we can successfully manage the opportunities that our changing profession offers, eventually emerging a stronger, more effective society. If re-elected, I will continue to work to develop an increased sense of community as well as ease of participation in that community, ultimately improving communication and facilitating collaboration. And I will continue to increase an awareness of the diverse opportunities offered by a chemistry degree, ensuring that even in the face of increased globalization, outsourcing, and a depressed US market for laboratory positions, those with a love of chemistry are encouraged to fulfill their passion as I did through an alternative career in scientific publishing.
Why Bonnie Lawlor? I believe that I bring unique attributes to the ACS Board of Directors. Having been the executive director of a non-profit member organization, I have experience successfully managing membership retention and growth, motivating volunteers, and balancing member benefits with fiscal responsibility. My continued involvement in publishing provides an understanding of the current issues that threaten ACS’s significant revenue from information products and services. From a financial perspective, my past work experience has required significant profit and loss responsibility. Most importantly, I care about ACS.
I invite you to contact me ([email protected]) with your ideas on how we together can help ACS reach its next major anniversary.
