SACNAS Honors Two Sacnistas for Presidential Service

Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) will honor Bentley University Dean of the Business School & McCallum Graduate School of Business Donna María Blancero, PhD and Western Washington University’s Professor Emeritus of Management Joseph E. García, PhD with the 2018 Presidential Service Awards at its 45th annual conference centered around science, mentorship, professional development, and networking. SACNAS Presidential Service Awards recognize members based on their years of continued contributions to SACNAS. This year’s awardees were selected by SACNAS President Lino Gonzalez.

Drs. Blancero and Garcia were selected for the award in recognition for their facilitation of the SACNAS leadership initiatives over the past decade.

“Any organization is as strong as its membership. SACNAS is fortunate to have so many committed and amazing leaders in ranks, such as Dr. Garcia and Dr. Blancero who have made significant contributions to their respective fields and to the cultivation of the next generation of underrepresented STEM leaders through their visionary work with the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute and the Advanced Leadership Institute. It is an honor to recognize their work and celebrate their example,” said SACNAS President Lino Gonzalez.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with such brilliant science leaders through my work at SACNAS. Thank you to the president of SACNAS and to the members for their support,” said Dr. Donna María Blancero.

“I am honored and humbled to be selected for this award and privileged to have contributed to the advancement of so many talented SACNAS scientists,” said Dr. Joseph E. García.

2018 SACNAS – The National Diversity in STEM Conference is one of the largest and most diverse gatherings for underrepresented minority (URM) STEM students and professionals in the country, and was attended by nearly 4,000 students and professionals at the Henry B. Gonzáles Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas from October 11-13, 2018.

2018 SACNAS Presidential Service Awardee Bios

Donna María Blancero, Ph.D
Dean of the Business School & McCallum Graduate School of Business, Bentley University

Donna María Blancero is a proud Nuyorican and the Dean of the Business School & McCallum Graduate School of Business at Bentley University. She is one of three Latina business deans in AACSB accredited Universities in the United States. She is the national chair for the Committee on Hispanic Excellence, a PhD Project/White House initiative for Hispanic Education. Donna María is a Fellow in the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. She is the recipient of several awards for diversity, including the National Society of Hispanic MBA’s Brillante Award for Hispanic Education, the National Black MBA Diversity Educator Award, and the MLK Leadership Award from Bentley University. She received her PhD from Cornell University and was the first Latina to graduate with a PhD from the ILR School. A national speaker on issues of diversity & inclusion, her research focuses on Latinos at work, particularly examining cultural values & acculturation.

Joseph E. García, Ph.D
Professor Emeritus of Management, Western Washington University

Originally from Brooklyn NY and of Puerto Rican heritage, Dr. Joseph E. García is Professor Emeritus of Management at Western Washington University where he served as the Bowman Distinguished Professor of Leadership Studies & founding Director of the Karen W. Morse Institute for Leadership. Prior to that he was Associate Dean and founding Director of the College of Business and Economics’ Center for Excellence in Management Education. Since 2009 he has served as a lead facilitator of the SACNAS Leadership Institutes. Dr. García’s scholarship focus is leadership, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. He has been a reviewer and editor of academic journals and is a member of the Academy of Management, former President of the Management Faculty of Color Association, Fellow of and twice Vice-President of the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society who recognized him with the David L. Bradford Outstanding Educator Award in 2017.

Click here for more information on the 2018 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference, including the agenda-at-a-glance.

View SACNAS’ fact sheet and follow the organization on social media and conference updates via #SACNAS2018: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube.

About SACNAS
SACNAS is an inclusive organization with a 45-year history of fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic & Native American scientists, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers and positions of leadership in science.

SACNAS serves approximately 6,000 members, a larger community of 20,000, and with 115 SACNAS student and professional chapters throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.