We are excited to announce the candidates for 2024 Executive Committee of the Orlando Section. Voting is expected to open on November 6th, 2023, when you will receive a separate email with the instructions on how to cast your votes electronically and will close on November 20th, 2023.
Dr. Brian Mosby
Candidate for Chair-Elect
Dr. Mosby is heavily invested in the development of students and participation in the scientific community. On campus he serves as the faculty advisor of the Rollins ACS student chapter and the coordinator for the general chemistry Peer Supplemental Instructor program. He is a longtime member of NOBCChE and has served on the national level as a member of the conference national planning committee (NPC) business development committee, technical sessions committee, and has served as the co-chair for the NPC on two occasions. Dr. Mosby is eager to continue his service through contributions to the Orlando Section as chair-elect.
Dr. Laura Sessions
Candidate for Councilor
Dr. Sessions hails from Winter Park, FL, where she spent her formative years. She holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees, having earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her doctorate degree from Dartmouth College. Over the last thirteen years, she has been a dedicated educator at Valencia College, taking on various roles such as Department Chair and actively participating on the Faculty Association Council. Dr. Sessions has been recognized for her commitment to teaching with multiple endowed chair awards.
Notably, Dr. Sessions has been a devoted volunteer within the ACS Orlando section since 2015, contributing her expertise in various capacities, including Alternate Councilor, Awards Chair, and Chair. Her commitment to the organization extends to her appointment to the ACS Budget & Finance Committee for 2023-2024, where she plays a vital role in overseeing the organization’s financial strategies. Dr. Sessions has also demonstrated her interest in the new officer position by attending the recent council and caucus meetings in San Francisco to gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the organization and the role of councilor.
Leveraging her leadership experience and consistent dedication to the ACS, Dr. Sessions would be pleased to extend her service to the Orlando Section as a Councilor.
Dr. Pavithra Pathirathna
Candidate for Secretary
Pavithra Pathirathna is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering and Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology. She performed her undergraduate studies at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and her Ph.D. with Parastoo Hashemi in the Department of Chemistry at Wayne State University, MI, USA. Her postdoctoral work was at the University of Pittsburgh with Shigeru Amemiya. Pavithra’s interdisciplinary and translational research program centers on developing and optimizing electrochemical sensors for analyzing biologically and environmentally impactful metals and neurotransmitters with applications in point of care diagnostics. Some of her prestigious distinctions include Honor Citation for Teaching Service and Esther and Stanley Kirschner General Chemistry Teaching Award. Besides her scholarly and teaching activities, Pavithra has been serving as the secretary of the ACS Orlando section since 2021 and a reviewer and a co-editor of several journals.
Dr. Van Quach
Candidate for Treasurer
Dr. Van Quach has been the treasurer of the Orlando Section since 2019. In addition, he is a professor of chemistry at Seminole State College. He has been teaching there since Aug 2010. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Florida in 1999. After taking some time off for travel, he made his way up to Tallahassee, FL to start graduate school. At Florida State University, his research focused on better understanding of the theoretical and fundamental processes that occur during chemical separation. Specifically, he investigated the temperature dependence of the phase ration in liquid chromatography systems. He received his Ph.D. in 2009 and taught for two years at FSU before returning to the central Florida area to teach at Seminole State College. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, reading, and drinking good wines.