Maximizing Access Committee
The mission of the MAC is to ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion are a priority throughout the society to advance life sciences research and education. The MAC strives to increase the presence, visibility, access and support of historically excluded and marginalized groups by advocating for policies and developing resources to promote more diverse, equitable and inclusive practices.
![Lea Vacca Michel](/getmedia/d7f1cbb0-7c5b-45a8-bbdc-625be7688237/300x300-Lea-Vacca-Michel.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Lea Vacca Michel
- Chair, Maximizing Access Committee (2023–2026)
- Rochester Institute of Technology
![Allison C. Augustus–Wallace](/getmedia/44f9d5da-7a0a-4ba2-b35d-6771c7e885c2/DrACAW-updated-photo-2-crop.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Allison C. Augustus–Wallace
- (2024–2027)
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans
![Shane Austin](/getmedia/cae1898b-ee63-4c7e-b4ff-df1ecd3e0aa8/300x300-Shane-Austin.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Shane Austin
- (2023–2026)
- The University of the West Indies
![Ruma Banerjee](/getmedia/39c6e6ba-226c-4726-a524-bbeeaee3adf6/300x300-Ruma-Banerjee.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Ruma Banerjee
- (2022–2025)
- University of Michigan
![Anton Bennett](/getmedia/1fd33ed8-0b1e-4ef0-bcc3-336b54c088c2/300x300-Anton-Bennett.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Anton Bennett
- (2024–2027)
- Yale University School of Medicine
![Reid Blanchett](/getmedia/751bc533-1040-47d0-91c9-a61f20b3816d/300x300-Reid-Blanchett.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Reid Blanchett
- (2023–2026)
- Van Andel Research Institute
![Oluwarotimi Folorunso](/getmedia/95a9d586-7f8c-432a-ae50-cbdcbcecc027/300x300-Oluwarotimi-Folorunso.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Oluwarotimi Folorunso
- (2022–2025)
- Harvard Medical School
![Yass Kobayashi](/getmedia/ecae5e47-2208-4ec8-b0f5-d7204746bd17/300x300-Yass-Kobayashi.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Yass Kobayashi
- (2022–2025)
- Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership
![Anita Nag](/getmedia/abb2bece-b406-4429-b2d8-ebdae9b4514f/300x300-Anita-Nag.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Anita Nag
- (2022–2025)
- University of South Carolina Upstate
![Teresita Padilla–Benavides](/getmedia/cd965e52-560d-44dc-a3fb-cb30dc00b146/300x300-Teresita-Padilla.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Teresita Padilla–Benavides
- (2023–2026)
- Wesleyan University
![Alberto Rascón](/getmedia/1b0ac0b6-4992-4be0-b9ac-36eba4eb28c4/300x300-Alberto-Rascon.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Alberto Rascón
- (2024–2027)
- Arizona State University
![José Arcadio Rodríguez–Martínez](/getmedia/23d678e3-5336-4a2a-9337-49f194735f43/300x300-Jose-Rodriguez-Martinez.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
José Arcadio Rodríguez–Martínez
- (2022–2025)
- University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras
![Yufeng Wei](/getmedia/ff1e3ea8-217d-4cd1-b723-a8e4fca31f11/300x300-Yufeng-Wei.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Yufeng Wei
- (2024–2027)
- New Jersey City University
![Stephen Williams](/getmedia/fd0e2439-6253-4a40-8cec-9dc17c5cf40e/300x300-Stephen-Williams_1.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Stephen Williams
- (2022–2025)
- MD Anderson Cancer Center
![Kiesha Wilson](/getmedia/e012f510-53ff-4075-a2e4-d9056726045e/300x300-Kiesha-Wilson_1.jpg?width=300&height=300&ext=.jpg)
Kiesha Wilson
- (2024–2027)
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine