Arvin J Cruz
Fort Hays State University
Professor and Chair of Chemistry

Arvin J Cruz is a professor and the current chair of the chemistry department at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) in Hays, Kansas. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Wichita State University (WSU) in Wichita, Kansas and his B.S. Chemistry degree from De La Salle University (DLSU), Manila, Philippines. Arvin is involved in local and regional affairs of the American Chemical Society. He is a member of the Wichita ACS Local Section and has served as secretary in 2016, chair-elect in 2017 and 2022 and chair in 2018 and 2023. He has served as Wichita Local Section’s representative on the regional board as secretary (2020), chair-elect (2021) and chair (2022). He was the co-recipient of the ACS Midwest Regional P3 (Partners for Progress and Prosperity) Awards in 2021. In 2019, he co-chaired the ACS Midwest Regional Meeting held in Wichita at the Wichita Marriott Corporate Hills hotel, with over 700 chemists in attendance. He had served and remained active on various award selection committees of the Midwest region. In the early 2020’s, the Wichita ACS section was undergoing a transition from older to younger chemists. To provide guidance in the process, Arvin submitted a strategic planning proposal to the National ACS Local Section Activities Committee (LSAC). The proposal was funded for $7000 to develop the local section’s first vision/mission statements: “Build and empower a community to enhance lives through chemistry” and “Connect members and the community through education and resource sharing to promote chemistry and enhance the lives of all people”. Three strategic goals were created in areas of Education, Outreach and Community Engagement. Arvin helped recruit professionals to participate at ACS Wichita section events and boosted active involvement among existing members. In so doing, the Wichita LS has been dynamic and is a thriving organization. It has expanded its outreach by partnering with chemistry student clubs from member universities/colleges, community-engagement initiative such as the annual WSU-EYH (Empowering Youth Horizons) Women in STEM initiative, Wichita citywide Open Streets event, annual undergraduate awards banquet, and social activities held at various locations within the local section’s jurisdiction, among others. The Wichita local section has seen an increase in attendance in recent years, with new members seeking active participation at local, regional and national levels. Arvin has also participated in the more traditional aspects of the profession by editing and publishing research manuscripts, evaluating research proposals, and interacting with honorary societies.