Past Awardees

SACNAS Distinguished Scientist Award Honorees
2024: Joseph Bull, PhD, Portland State University

2023: Santiago Schnell, PhD, University of Notre Dame

2022: Otakuye Conroy-Ben, PhD, Arizona State University

2021: Maria C. Tamargo, PhD, The City College of New York-CUNY

2020: Javier Rojo, PhD, Oregon State University
2019: Renato Aguilera, PhD, The University of Texas at El Paso
2018: Adriana Darielle Mejía Briscoe, PhD, University of California, Irvine
2017: Robert S. Fuller, PhD, University of Michigan Ann Arbor
2016: Steven Greenbaum, PhD, Hunter College City University of New York
2015: Carlos Rios-Velazquez, PhD, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
2014: José A. López, MD, University of Washington School of Medicine
2013: Miguel A. Mora, PhD, Texas A&M University
2012: Miguel José Yacamán, PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio
2011: Enrique Lavernia, PhD, University of California, Davis
2010: Ramon Lopez, PhD, University of Texas at Arlington
2009: Jorge Gardea-Torresdey, PhD, University of Texas at El Paso
2008: Juan Meza, PhD, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
2007: Eloy Rodriguez, PhD, Cornell University
2006: Donna Nelson, PhD, University of Oklahoma
2005: Margaret Werner-Washburne, PhD, University of New Mexico
2004: Elma Gonzalez, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
2003: John Alderete, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center
2002: Arthur Gutierrez-Hartmann, PhD, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
2001: Carlos Castillo-Chavez, PhD, Cornell University
2000: Richard Tapia, PhD, Rice University
1999: Fred Begay, PhD, Los Alamos National Laboratory
1998: Francisco J. Ayala, PhD, University of California, Irvine
1997: Luis Villarreal, PhD, University of California, Irvine
1997: Frank Talamantes, PhD, University of California, Santa Cruz

SACNAS Distinguished Student Mentor Award
2015: Healani Chang, Dr.PH, University of Hawaii at Manoa
2015: Paul Barber, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

SACNAS Distinguished Research Mentor Award Honorees
2015: Elba Serrano, PhD, New Mexico State University
2014: Dana C. Crawford, PhD, Case Western Reserve University
2013: Renato J. Aguilera, PhD, University of Texas, El Paso

SACNAS Distinguished Research Mentor Award Honorees
2014: John Matsui, PhD, University of California, Berkeley
2013: Jacquelyn R. Bolman, PhD, Humboldt State University
2012: Terry Woodin, PhD, National Science Foundation
2011: David Ernst, PhD, Vanderbilt University
2010: George Perry, PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio
2009: Maria Fatima Lima, PhD, Meharry Medical College
2008: Sonia Ortega, PhD, National Science Foundation
2007: Diana I. Marinez, PhD, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
2006: Anthony René, PhD, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH, DHHS
2005: Kika Friend, MA, University of California, Irvine
2004: Clifton A. Poodry, PhD, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH, DHHS
2003: Levon Parker, BS, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, DHHS

SACNAS Distinguished STEM Education Award Honorees
Formerly: SACNAS Distinguished K-12 Educator Award (2000–2009)
2011: Michael Arratia, San Benito Consolidated Independent School District
2010: Maria Eguia-Vera, Luis Pales Matos High School, Puerto Rico
2008: Wendell Gehman, MS, Red Cloud High School
2007: Elizabeth M. Redondo, MA/MEd, Mission View Elementary
2004: Manuel P. Berriozábal, PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio
2003: Carmen J. Nuñez, MA, Villalba High School
2002: Roberto Marrero-Ortiz, Carmen Bozello de Huyke High School
2001: Mario Godoy-Gonzalez, PhD, Royal High School
2000: Diane Garcia, MS, MAST Academy in Miami

SACNAS Distinguished Service to the Society Honorees
2012: Arlene Nededog, MEd, Director of Undergraduate Retention Programs, Colorado State University

SACNAS Distinguished Tribal College Mentor Award Honorees
2012: Sharon Condon, MA, Haskell Indian Nations University
2011: Douglas Stevens, PhD, Salish Kootenai College
2004: Dennis O’Malley, PhD, Haskell Indian Nations University
2001: Vama Robson, PhD, Diné College–East
2000: Edward Garrison, PhD/MPH, Diné College

SACNAS Distinguished Mentor Award
2024: Eugene Mananga, PhD, The City University of New York - BCC and Graduate Center

2023: Paola López-Duarte, PhD, Portland State University

2022: Arnaldo Diaz Vazquez, PhD, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

2021: Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, PhD, University of California Santa Cruz

2020: Lorenza Levy, PhD, San Diego City College
2019: Robert E. Megginson, PhD, University of Michigan
2018: Ofelia Olivero, PhD, Intramural Diversity Workforce Branch, National Cancer Institute
2017: Cynthia Wyels, PhD, California State University Channel Islands
2016: Sarina Ergas, PhD, University of South Florida

SACNAS Outstanding Mentor Award Honorees

2024: Lilia De La Cerda, PhD, California State University, Fresno

2024: Veronica Martinez Acosta, PhD, University of the Incarnate Word

2024: Joseph Ryan, PhD, University of Florida

2024: John P. Wise, Sr, PhD, University of Louisville

2023: Kamuela E Yong, PhD, University of Hawai'i West Oahu

2023: Giovanna Guerrero Medina PhD, Yale Ciencia Initiative & Yale University

2023: Teresa Ramírez, PhD, Latinas Leading Tomorrow

2023: Joslynn S. Lee, PhD, Fort Lewis College

2022: Angela Brooks, PhD, University of California Santa Cruz

2022: Alexandra Colon-Rodriguez, PhD, California Governor's Office of Planning and Research

2022: Christine Case, PhD, Skyline College

2020: Gabriela Chavira, PhD, California State University, Northridge
2020: Patricia Silveyra, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2020: Gerardo Cisneros, PhD, University of North Texas
2019: Jorge Torres, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
2019: Cleopatria Martinez, PhD, Phoenix College
2019: JoAnn Trejo, PhD, University of California, San Diego
2017: William J. Hoese, PhD, California State University, Fullerton
2017: Marco Hatch, PhD, Western Washington University
2017: Teresita Padilla-Benavides, PhD, University of Massachusetts Medical School
2017: Jose Cabrera, PhD, San Jose City College

SACNAS Distinguished Undergraduate Institution Mentor Award Honorees
2014: Herbert Medina, PhD, Layola Marymount University
2013: Maria Cristina Villalobos, PhD, The University of Texas-Pan American
2012: Erika T. Camacho, PhD, Arizona State University
2011: Carlos Gutierrez, PhD, California State University, Los Angeles
2010: Ricardo Cortez, PhD, Tulane University
2009: Frank Bayliss, PhD, San Francisco State University
2008: R. Deborah Overath, PhD, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
2007: Glenn D. Kuehn, PhD, New Mexico State University
2006: Roberto Steven Pozos, PhD, San Diego State University
2005: Phillip A. Ortiz, PhD, Empire State College of the State University of New York
2004: Laura Robles, PhD, California State University, Dominguez Hills
2003: Frank Gomez, PhD, California State University, Los Angeles
2002: Thomas D. Landefeld, PhD, California State University, Dominguez Hills
2001: Carlos Robles, PhD, California State University, Los Angeles
2000: Luis S. Haro, PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio
1999: Vernon L. Avila, PhD, San Diego State University
1998: John C. Perez, PhD, Texas A&M University–Kingsville

SACNAS Distinguished Community College Mentor Award Honorees
2014: Claudia Barreto, PhD, University of New Mexico, Valencia Campus
2013: Robert J. Urtecho, PhD, College of the Sequoias
2012: Octavio Pierre Romero, MA, San Diego Mesa College
2008: Christine Case, EdD, Skyline College
2007: Jaye Van Kirk, MA, San Diego Mesa College
2005: Kamala D. Sharma, PhD, University of New Mexico–Gallup Branch
2003: Maria Alvarez, PhD, El Paso Community College
2002: Socorro Arteaga, PhD, EL Paso Community College
1999: Anthony Sena, PhD, Northern New Mexico Community College
1998: Miriam J. Roman-Chavez, PhD, University New Mexico, Valencia

SACNAS Presidential Service Award Honorees
2022: Corey K. Welch, PhD, Iowa State University

2021: Lydia Villa-Komaroff, PhD, Intersections SBD Consulting

2020: Erika T. Camacho, PhD, Arizona State University / NSF
2020: Maria Cristina Villalobos, PhD, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
2017: LeManuel Bitsoi, EdD, Stony Brook University
2017: George Negrete, PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio
2010: Donna Blancero, PhD & Richard Weibl, for leadership of the SACNAS Leadership Program
2009: Wilfred Denetclaw, PhD, for advancing SACNAS Native American Initiatives
2009: Healani Chang, DrPH, for leadership of the SACNAS Native American Affairs Committee
2009: Joseph Garcia, PhD, for leadership of the SACNAS Leadership Program
2009: Howard Peters, PhD, for fostering the partnership between SACNAS and the American Chemical Society
2008: Robert Barnhill, PhD, for long-time service, including leadership of conference partnerships in Kansas, Utah, & Texas
2008: Miriam Georgina Cabezas, MPP, for commitment to the organization and its policy initiatives
2008: Chuck Kennicutt, PhD, Craig Tweedie, PhD, & Dennis Martinez, for leadership of the IPY Committee and TEK activities
2008: Kathleen O’Hara, PhD, & Michelle D. Wagner, PhD, for leadership of SACNAS mathematics initiatives
2008: Theresa Martinez, PhD, & Octavio Villalpando, PhD for leadership of the 2008 Local Organizing Committee
2008: Brenda Burrell, Frank Cordova, Forrest Cuch, Dr. Chuck Foster, Nino Reyos, Doug Rodriguez, Janice Jones Shroeder, Moises Terrazas, & Dr. Sweeney Windchief, for participation on the 2008 Local Organizing Committee
2007: Almaris Alonzo for advancing the SACNAS Chapter Program
2007: James Orr, PhD, for leadership of the 2007 Local Organizing Committee
2007: Clifton Poodry, PhD, for support of underrepresented minority science leaders within SACNAS
2007: Sylvia Trujillo, JD, & J.V. Martinez, PhD, for fostering the SACNAS-SHPE-MAES Consortium
2006: Ricardo Cortez, PhD, & Ivelisse Rubio, PhD, for developing & leading the SACNAS Mathematics Program
2006: Gustavo Miranda-Carboni, PhD, & Gabriel Montaño, PhD, for leadership of the SACNAS Student Presentations Program
2006: Alberto Roca, PhD, for developing & leading the SACNAS Postdoc Program
2006: Maggie Werner-Washburne, PhD, for developing & leading the SACNAS Genomics Program