ARCS Minnesota member Judy Benham was recently recognized for her successful career and contributions to science. She was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Having learned some chemistry growing up – her father was a pharmacist – Benham began working towards her PhD at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, when there were just over 100 students enrolled in the chemistry department graduate program – only 12 of them women.  “Women were unusual” decades ago in chemistry programs, Benham says.

After completing her PhD, Benham had a long, distinguished career in multiple divisions of 3M: Visual Products, Specialty Chemicals, Industrial Tape, Masking and Packaging Systems, & Packaging Systems Divisions. “In 25 years, I had multiple positions with increasing responsibility, progressing up both the technical and management ladders,” she says.

Concurrently, she participated in multiple 3M Corporate Task Forces and Committees, including the 3M Affirmative Action Task Force (1987-1989), US Sub-Committee on Diversity (1993-1997), Industrial & Consumer Diversity Committee (Chair 1994-1997), and 3M Human Resources Advisory Committee on Diversity (1997-2002).

Benham was also active for decades with the American Chemical Society, serving on multiple committees and ultimately being elected Chair of the Board of Directors and Board Executive Committee (2007-2009).  She was selected as an ACS Fellow.  Her citation said she was selected  for ”contributions in advancing chemistry through new polymers and technology, leadership in innovation in science and science communities, and support of inclusive culture in science.”

Benham, now retired, is a leadership member of the Minnesota Chapter and active with ARCS National. She says the caliber of ARCS Scholars is impressive and makes her optimistic about ARCS’ mission of advancing science in America. “ARCS is a very special organization,” she says. 

It is no surprise that Benham’s daughter pursued a science career. She is now an Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine, where she leverages the remarkable biology of planarian flatworms to uncover conserved mechanisms underlying extreme regenerative capacity and resistance to cancer and aging.

Another Minnesota member, Cristina Thomas, has also been recognized for a career in science. Thomas has been inducted into the National Academy of Engineering class of 2024.