Gilda A Barabino

Gilda A. Barabino was the president of the Olin College of Engineering from 2020 to 2025, where she currently teaches as a professor of Biomedical and Chemical engineering. On March 4, 2021, she became the president-elect of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and between then and 2024, she served as the President and Chair of the Board of Directors. She has served in various positions within the Biomedical and Chemical engineering at different schools, such as The City College of New York, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Northeastern University.

Early life and education Gilda Ann Barabino was born in Anchorage, Alaska on May 28, 1956. Both her mother, Margaret Agnes Barnes Barnum, and her father, Norman Edward Barnum III, were originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. Barabino's father was in the US Army and stationed in Alaska at the time of her birth. The family moved frequently during her childhood. After her father retired, the family returned to New Orleans. Barabino's mother went back to school and became a nurse's aid, working at Charity Hospital. Her father took a job in the Veteran's Administration, while studying for a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Southern University at New Orleans. Barabino enjoyed her time at the historically black university, since she was no longer the only black student in her classes and was encouraged academically.

After finishing her degree, she enrolled in the Louisiana State University (LSU) Dental School and applied for an Army Health Professions scholarship to cover the expenses. Barabino ended up leaving LSU after one year, after her professors refused to communicate with her and another black student, and she was told she would have to repeat her first year. Her thesis work involved studying the abnormal flow of blood in sickle cell disease, a topic she picked because it disproportionately affects African Americans. In 2006, they co-organized the Minority Faculty Development Workshop.

In 2007 she moved to Georgia Tech, which was a center for sickle cell research. She was a professor in the department of biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, as well as the associate chair for graduate studies and the inaugural vice provost for academic diversity.

In 2013 she became the Daniel and Frances Berg Professor and dean of the Grove School of Engineering at The City College of New York, where she maintained an active research group.

From 2021-2024, Dr. Barabino served as the President-elect, President, and Chair of the Board of Directors of AAAS.

Honors and awards

2019: National Academy of Engineering Fellow 2019: American Institute of Chemical Engineers Award for Service to Society 2018: Dr. Joseph N. Cannon Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers 2017: American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Pierre Galletti Award 2016–18: American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering President 2016: Honorary degree from Xavier University of Louisiana 2015: Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring 2012–2014: Biomedical Engineering Society President 2012–2014: Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer 2011: Georgia Tech Woman of Distinction Award 2011: American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow 2010: Biomedical Engineering Society Fellow 2010: Biomedical Engineering Society Diversity Award 2010: American Institute of Chemical Engineers MAC Eminent Engineers Award 2010: American Institute of Chemical Engineers MAC Distinguished Service Award 2009: Rice University Distinguished Bioengineering Alumna 2007: American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering Fellow 1996–1998: National Science Foundation Visiting Professorship for Women 1994: American Society for Engineering Education Dow Outstanding Faculty Award