Academy Council

The Council consists of the current elected Academy officers, the Chairs of the Foundation and the Research Grants Committee, and two at-large members. The Council is responsible for all business of the Academy. The Director is an ex officio member of the Council without voting rights.

President (2025-2026)

Luis Palacio, PE, PhD

Executive Director / CEO Diversity & Innovation Institute

President-Elect (2025-2026)

Jennifer Kowalski

Professor of Biological Sciences, Butler University

Treasurer (2025-2027)

Moses Prabu

Secretary (2024-2027)

Michelle Marincel Payne

Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Immediate Past-President (2025-2026)

Samina Akbar

Professor of Microbiology, Marian University

Chair, Foundation (2025-2027)

Tom Dolan

Biology Professor Emeritus, Butler University

Chair, Senior Research Grants (2024-2027)

Philip Villani

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Butler University

Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (2024-2027)

Hisako Masuda

Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Indiana University Kokomo

Council Member-at-Large (2024-2026)

Erin Gerecke

Council Member-at-Large (2025-2027)

Christopher W. Schmidt

Professor & Chair of Anthropology, University of Indianapolis