Biographical Information

Education

Post-Graduate Certificate, Academic Leadership, the Chicago School, 2014
Post-Doc, Medicinal Chemistry, Florida A&M University, 2004
PhD, Organic Chemistry, University of New Orleans, 2003
BS, Chemistry, Dillard University, 1997

---

Expertise

Broadening Participation, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), STEM Education Research, Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, and Cheminformatics

---

Bio

Leyte L. Winfield is a full professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Spelman College where she serves as Division Chair for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Her leadership experience extends across and beyond the academic environment. As chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Spelman College, Winfield led the department’s efforts to broaden the curriculum to meet the ideals of a liberal arts education while simultaneously providing students with resources that promote improved engagement and performance in the majors. In addition to her role as department chair, her record of leadership has included service as interim associate provost of research, as well as directorships for programmatic efforts geared toward improving diversity in STEM.

A medicinal chemist, she has designed and synthesized compounds intended to address problems posed by existing cancer therapies. She has received six patents for compositions of mater covering more than 800 unique structural entities. Complementing her lab-based success, Dr. Winfield is leading NSF funds research related to the participation and success of underrepresented groups in STEM. Specifically, her work deals with characterizing how students of color demonstrate agency in the pursuit of STEM careers and the ecosystems that nurture such agency. For these collaborative efforts, she has received more than $6.9 million. Dr. Winfield is chairing the internal steering committee for the newly established Center of Excellence for Women of Color in STEM at Spelman College. Funded by the Department of Defense, the Center builds upon Spelman’s legacy of preparing women of African descent to excel in STEM careers. She is the lead editor of a book through ACS Publications entitled, Growing Diverse STEM Communities: Methodology, Impact, and Evidence. Dr. Winfield is a coach and facilitator for the AAC&U PKAL STEM Leadership Institute and holds a post-graduate certificate in academic leadership from the Chicago School of Clinical Psychology. In addition, she chairs the Minority Chemist Subdivision of the ACS Division of Professional Relations, is a member of the ACS Committee on Professional Training, serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Chemical Education, and is a member of the leadership board OrganicERs, a learning community for the development and dissemination of organic chemistry pedagogies and learning resources.