Biography of Celeste Rohlfing

Dr. Rohlfing graduated with degrees in chemistry from Duke University and Princeton University. She published over 70 articles in theoretical chemistry while at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, during her research career. At the National Science Foundation, she served in several program and management positions, concluding her federal career as Deputy Assistant Director, overseeing the world's leading research portfolio for the physical sciences and mathematics with a budget of $1.5 billion.  She also served as the Assistant Director for Physical Sciences in President Obama’s White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Her last position before retirement was Chief Operating Officer at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  From founding the Sandia Math & Science Awards for high school girls, to leading National Science Foundation's development of its broadening participation plan to increase representation of women and minorities in science, Dr. Rohlfing has had a passion for mentoring and diversity throughout her career.  She organized workshops for department chairs on diversity in academic workforces as well as a forum for scientific publishers and grant-making agencies on implicit bias in peer review, and currently serves on boards of organizations that support women and minorities pursuing careers in science.