SACNAS—Society for Advancement of Chicanos & Native Americans in Science–is a society of scientists dedicated to fostering the success of Hispanic/Chicano & Native American scientists, from college students to professionals, to attain advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership.
SACNAS’ goals are to increase the number of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans with advanced degrees in science and the motivation to be leaders; to increase the number of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in science research, leadership and teaching careers at all levels; to increase governmental commitment to advancing Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in science, resulting in increased resources, elimination of barriers, and greater equity.
As of April 2025 the MSU Denver SACNAS Chapter is a Provisional National SACNAS Student Chapter.
Save the Date SACNAS Conference 2025 October 30 - November 1, 2025 Columbus, Ohio
Panel participants will bring diverse perspectives on supporting marginalized students in higher education. Discussion: Challenges in academic environments, Creating and maintaining safe spaces, Strategies for amplifying voices and concerns
The leading multicultural and multidisciplinary STEM diversity organization.
Great way to develop leadership skills.
Keynote Speakers:
Minerva Cordero – PhD – Vice Provost for Faculty Success at the University of Texas, Arlington
Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS, MBA – Dean of Diversity and Community Partnership; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Professor of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Donald Warned, MD, MPH (Oglala Lakota) – Co-Director of the Center for Indigenous Health – Professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD – Provost Fellow for Indigenous Health Policy.
Featured Speakers:
Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) – Executive Vice President of Seattle Indian Health Board and Director of its research division, Urban Indian Health Institute
Jorge Jimenez, PhD (Akateko) – CEO of Mayan Bioengineer LLC
Naomie Lee, PhD (Seneca) – Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University
Desire Delia Whitmore, PhD – Staff Physicist Educator in the Teacher Institute at the Exploratorium in San Francisco
Students attending: Steven Mendoza, Luis Delgado, Raelyn Begay, Jacob Diaz, Anthony Manriguez, Alejandra Gutierrez
This years SACNAS Conference was in Portland, Oregon.
The keynote speakers were:
Dr. Chris Cornelius – Oneida Chair – Iowa State University
Dr. Marvi Matos Rodriguez – Director of Engineering – The Boeing Company
Dr. JoAnn Trejo – Professor and Vice Chancellor – University of California, San Diego
The featured speakers were:
Dr. Sonia Zarate – Emcee Chair, SACNAS Leadership Initiatives Subcommittee – SACNAS
Dr. Charla Lambert – Haida and Tsimshian – President – SACNAS
Juan Amador – FASAE, CASE Executive Director – SACNAS
This year the BUILD Program and the RM-AMP Program has thirteen students attend:
Laura, Delgado, Luis Delgado, Mahelet De Anda Vazque, Victor Delgado, Roy Freyta, Alejandra Gutierrez, Hugo Lemus, Naomi Jacquez, Darian Matsunaga, Uriel Aviles-Ruiz and Thaw Sue
The 2022 National Diversity in STEM Conference (NDiSTEM) Conference was in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a record 6,000 in attendance. The SACNAS conference is the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural in the country and serves to equip, empower, and energize participants for their academic and professional paths in STEM. Over the course of the event, attendees are immersed in cutting-edge STEM research, professional development sessions, motivational keynote speakers, and the Graduate School & Career Expo, as well as multicultural celebrations and traditions, and an inclusive and welcoming community of peers, mentors, and role models. Simply put, the SACNAS conference is a broadly inclusive space where you are encouraged and empowered to bring your whole self to STEM.
This year, the BUILD program at MSU Denver had four students who attended. Conner Sullivan, Luis Delgado, and Naomi Jacquez attended and Alena Kelleher attended and presented.
