Kathy Woody has been selected as the first recipient of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Barbara Filner Award. The AWIS recognizes outstanding women, who are pursuing careers in a broad range of sciences and related fields while helping other women succeed in these fields.

Kathy has been active in several student organizations, such as Graduate Student Forum and Women in Chemistry (serving as Co-Chair of Women In Chemistry (WIC) this past year) at Georgia Tech and recently helped organize a Graduate and Postdoctoral Diversity Summit at the National American Chemical Society Meeting this past spring in San Francisco. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Professor David Collard’s group.

The award is named in honor of Dr. Barbara Filner (1941-2009), a strong supporter, mentor, and leader in encouraging women to enter the sciences. Dr. Filner graduated from Queens College, New York, and received a PhD in Biology from Brandeis University in Massachusetts. She was an assistant professor at Columbia University before choosing to pursue a career in science policy and grants administration. Dr. Filner wanted to be remembered as a “Mentor to Women Scientists.” Thanks to the generosity of her family, friends, and colleagues, the Barbara Filner Award is helping to preserve her legacy.

Congratulations, Kathy!