On May 13th, close to 100 colleagues and students, current and past gathered in the tutorial center of the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building to honor Mike Summers election to the National Academy of Sciences. Summers, the Robert E. Meyerhoff Chair for Excellence in Research and Mentoring and University Distinguished Professor of chemistry and biochemistry, had been elected to membership in the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Summers is one of only 84 new members and 21 foreign associates from 14 countries elected this year. Membership is one of the highest honors that a researcher can receive.

Summers’ election is a major milestone for UMBC as the university approaches its 50th anniversary, one that acknowledges Summers’ exceptional contributions to the scientific community and UMBC’s stature as a nationally and internationally recognized research university. This honor also recognizes Summers’ leadership in demonstrating what an inclusive university community committed to both teaching and research can achieve.