The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is proud to announce that Vice President for Research and Professor of Chemistry Victor McCrary has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Election as an AAAS Fellow honors individuals whose efforts to advance science or its applications are “scientifically or socially distinguished.” McCrary is recognized for his decades-long leadership, advocacy and enduring commitment to diversifying the pipeline of workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“I am deeply honored by today’s announcement and to join the ranks of AAAS Fellows,” McCrary says. “This recognition is not only personally meaningful but also affirms the importance of my work to expand opportunities for U.S. workers to pursue and thrive in STEM careers. In an increasingly competitive global economy, we cannot afford to leave skilled and talented workers on the bench. We need the full spectrum of technical expertise—from plumbers to Ph.D.s, electricians to electrical engineers—from every community. Broadening the pipeline isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a national security imperative.”
As vice president of research, McCrary leads the university’s expanding research enterprise and serves as a key driver of its strategic, visionary innovation and cross-sector collaboration. Under his leadership, the university was recently designated as a Carnegie-classified Research College and University (RCU), a significant milestone as UDC continues to grow its national research footprint.
“Today’s announcement is a well-deserved recognition of Dr. McCrary’s work as a STEM advocate in local and national communities, and a reflection of UDC’s growing research capacity,” said Chief Academic Officer April Massey. “Dr. McCrary has worked closely with me and other members of the university’s senior leadership to elevate UDC’s research profile and to pursue the next phase of our strategic vision—including achieving R2 status. His leadership has been instrumental to our momentum, and he is to be applauded for his guidance as we raise the university’s profile as a research enterprise that drives innovation, workforce development and economic mobility for the District and beyond.”