SACNAS is a society founded 40 years ago to support Hispanic, Chicano, and Native American scientists. It began alongside civil rights movements and initially focused on networking, funding, and organizing conferences. Today SACNAS has over 70 chapters nationwide that provide mentorship, support, and professional development for underrepresented minority scientists at all career levels. The Grinnell College chapter was founded in 2011 and aims to cultivate leadership in science, support underrepresented groups, and provide networking opportunities through conferences, study breaks, and mentorship with faculty.

1. History of SACNAS
• SACNAS is a society of scientists dedicated to
fostering the success of Hispanic/Chicano and
Native American scientists– from college
students to professionals—to attain advanced
degrees, careers and positions of Leadership
in Science.
• Started 40 years ago alongside Chicano/
Native American Movements.
• Early initiatives included nationwide
networking, securing funding, and organizing
the first SACNAS conference in 1978.
• Today SACNAS is a national network of
scientists with over 70 chapters nationwide with
members of all professional levels
(Undergraduate, Graduate, Post-Graduate,
Faculty)
• Active engagement in the science and
leadership.
• Local support and development of scientists
through mentorship and networking.
Founding Members
Founding Members of Grinnell College SACNAS
Chapter:
Nancy E. Hernandez 13’, Avery Rowlison 13’,
Guadalupe Osorio 13’, Laura M Garcia
12’, Ana Mancebo 12’, Martin Estrada 14’, Drew
Morley 13’, Dr. Heriberto Hernandez-Soto, Dr. Elaine
Marzluff and Dr. David Romano.
National SACNAS Conferences
Grinnell College SACNAS Chapter
Mission
Chapter Mentors
SACNAS Charters in the Mid-West
Our mission is to create a community of scientists at Grinnell
that will :
• Cultivate leadership among science majors at Grinnell.
• Raise support for underrepresented minorities in the sciences
• Establish mentorship with faculty and alumni at Grinnell
• Attend networking and professional development opportunities
that will enhance their educations and career.
2013-2014 Cabinet Members
Right to Left: Luis Hernandez
15`(Secretary), Martin Estrada 14`(Co-
Leader), Lorena Ulloa 15`(Co-Leader),
Jeremy Sanchez 14` (Treasurer), Catherine
Ramirez 16' (Public Relations)
Members at the 2015
SACNAS in Washington D.C
Right to Left: Karolina Márquez-
Gil 17’, Monica Lóza 18’,
Gabrielle Mercado 16’, Alfredo
Sebastian Colina ‘17.
Grinnell College SACNAS
Chapter Faculty Advisor
Dr. Heriberto Hernandez-
Soto
Grinnell College students became interested in SACNAS during the spring of
2011 when several students traveled to the SACNAS Midwest Regional Conference
in Chicago, IL to present their research, attend professional development workshops
and to network with undergraduate, graduate and faculty members in the sciences
from schools and organizations throughout the Midwest since then students at
Grinnell have: Started an official SACNAS chapter at Grinnell drawing the interest of
science students across campus of all ethnic backgrounds. Traveled to and
presented research at the SACNAS National Conference in San Jose, California in
Fall 2011, SACNAS National Conference in Washington DC in the Fall 2015, and
hosted science division wide study breaks to unite students of all science
majors:http://web.grinnell.edu/groups/SACNAS/index.html
Study Break:
Alexis Acosta ’18 and
Karolina Márquez-Gil ‘17,
Members of Grinnell College SACNAS Chapter 2015-2016:
Catherine Ramirez 16‘, Iridian Guzmán 19’, Cassandra Miller 16’,
Rita Clark 18’, Gabrielle Mercado 16’ , Monica Lóza 18’, Dr.
Heriberto Hernandez-Soto, Glorianne Dorcé ‘17, Alexis Acosta ‘18,
Karla Gomez ‘19, Alfredo Villalobos Perez 19’.
Members of Grinnell College SACNAS Chapter 2015-2016 at the
Washington D.C, SACNAS Conference:
Catherine Ramirez 16’,
Gabrielle Mercado 16’ , Monica Lóza 18’, Dr. Heriberto Hernandez-
Soto,Alexis Acosta ‘18, Alfredo Sebastian Colina ‘17. Dr. Clark
Lindgren, Nancy Hernandez 13’.