The world’s largest scientific society has named a Xavier University graduate who was raised in New Orleans as its president-elect. Gilda Barabino began her one-year term with the American Association for the Advancement of Science last week, a prelude to a year as president then a year as chairwoman.
The association is the world’s leading scientific professional organization and publishes the journal Science.
“Science has the power to change the world,” said Barabino, a biomedical engineering professor and president of Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts. “Harnessing that power requires science for all in service of humanity. I am excited to join the leadership of AAAS and contribute to the advancement of its mission in new and transformative ways.”
In July, Barabino became the second president of Olin College, established in 1997. Noted for her work on sickle cell disease and cellular and tissue engineering, she also is a biomedical engineering professor at the college. Previously she was dean at City College of New York.
She founded the National Institute for Faculty Equity and is a member of the National Academies’ Roundtable on Black Men and Black Women in Science, Engineering and Medicine.
Gilda Barabino, a Xavier University graduate raised in New Orleans, is the new president-elect of American Association for the Advancement of …
An Olin College spokeswoman said Barabino's parents were originally from New Orleans but that her father served in the military and she was born in Alaska. She was raised in New Orleans, attended Benjamin Franklin High School and stayed for her undergraduate studies at Xavier, the spokeswoman said. She said Barabino’s mother still lives in New Orleans.
Don Boesch, another renowned scientist from New Orleans and the former president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, called Barabino’s selection a major achievement, not only for her but for New Orleans in general.
“The president of the AAAS is one of the most prestigious positions in all of science,” Boesch said. “That Dr. Barabino could achieve this distinction should encourage all children in New Orleans that through hard work and determination they too can achieve great things.”
Before becoming an award-winning scientist and member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, Barabino obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Xavier. She acquired a doctorate at Rice University and in 2016 was awarded an honorary degree by Xavier. She now sits on Xavier’s board of directors.