Patricia L. Perez Memorial Scholarship

Donor: Chemistry Department

Pat Perez (November 3, 1943 – January 26, 2024) was a pioneering chemist and educator, the first Latina to receive a Master's Degree in Chemistry from UCLA. Starting her career in 1968 at Mt. San Antonio College, she became the department's first female Latina full-time professor, eventually rising to Department Chair. Throughout her 34-year tenure, retiring in August 2002, Pat significantly impacted chemistry, co-leading Project Inclusion (PI). This initiative, supported by the National Science Foundation and the Chemical Heritage Foundation, aimed to increase chemistry's diversity by attracting underrepresented students. Pat's leadership in PI highlighted and supported the roles of women, physically challenged individuals, and diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural groups in chemistry, providing educators with valuable resources and strategies to empower these communities.