Geraldine Richmond, a University of Oregon Chemistry Professor, has been confirmed as the new undersecretary of science and energy for the federal Department of Energy.
The Senate approved her appointment in a voice vote. Richmond will oversee the Energy Department’s Office of Science and advise the secretary of defense on energy and technology issues.
“It comes as no surprise that Professor Richmond would be chosen for such an important position,” said UO President Michael Schill in a press release. “She is the gold standard of academics, and is well known for her many achievements as a researcher, scholar and advocate for women in the sciences. Professor Richmond will no doubt drive innovation and discovery for our country in this role.”
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm said Richmond’s record of public service and commitment to building an inclusive workforce will aid the department’s efforts to transition to a clean energy economy and accelerate innovation.
Richmond holds the Presidential Chair in Science at the UO and is recipient of the National Medal of Science.
Among her other accomplishments, Richmond has designed state-of-the-art laser systems, optics equipment and computers that work in tandem to understand molecular processes at liquid surfaces that have environmental importance.
In addition to her presidential honors, Richmond has received numerous other awards, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring from President Clinton in 1997 and the American Chemical Society’s highest honor, the Priestley Medal, in 2018. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society and the Association for Women in Science.
Richmond also has been a pioneer in advocating for the advancement of women in science.
In 1998, Richmond and Jeanne Pemberton of the University of Arizona co-founded COACh, the Committee on the Advancement of Women Chemists. The organization has delivered a series of successful workshops on negotiation, leadership and conflict resolution to more than 15,000 women in all fields of science and engineering around the U.S.