Carlos Gutierrez

California State University, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 1996

Carlos Gutierrez  Portrait Photo

The official biography below was current at the time of the award. Awardees may choose to provide their latest biographical information on their profile page.

Carlos Gutierrez is Professor of Chemistry and Director of both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) and the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) Programs at California State University at Los Angeles. His accomplishments include: I. Significant impact on minority student college and university education through his work on NIH funded projects -- over 180 students mentored by him through these programs or his role as a faculty participant in other department projects such as the NSF Research Improvement in Minority Institutions (RIMI) and Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Programs; II. Significant institutional impact -- the American Chemical Society (ACS), in great part through his effort, established the Committee on Minority Affairs in 1993 with Gutierrez serving as its first chair, which in turn established the ACS Minority Scholars Program, a $5 million scholarship program for undergraduates; and the establishment of the ACS Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students to Pursue Careers in Chemical Sciences. -- as Vice Chair of the National Academy of Science Committee on a National Scholars Program, under contract to NASA, he has articulated persuasively the responsibility of all faculty, but especially science faculty, to seek out talented minority students and encourage their academic development very early in their undergraduate career; and III. Beyond individual students, Gutierrez has effected an entire cohort of future science professionals.