Serving 1.8 million students, the California Community College system is the largest system of higher education in the country with 116 community colleges. To recognize the invaluable contributions of community college chemistry faculty, the Silicon Valley ACS Teacher-Scholar Award was initiated in 2008.
The Silicon Valley ACS Teacher-Scholar Award honors community college chemistry faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching, mentoring and scholarship and/or who make impactful contributions to their communities through outstanding leadership and service. This year’s winner is Jillian L. Blatti, Associate Professor at Pasadena City College.
Dr. Veronica Jaramillo, her nominator for this award, noted that “She is a dedicated mentor, a rigorous researcher, and a visionary educator who has transformed the lives of countless students. Her work demonstrates that excellence in chemistry education is not just about information dissemination but about empowering a diverse next generation of scientists to solve the world’s more pressing challenges.”
Please join us for the presentation of this award at the annual Silicon Valley ACS summer picnic on July 11, 2026 in Mountain View. This lively SVACS tradition is family-friendly, so bring friends and family to enjoy barbecue, wine-tasting, and good company.
Jillian L. Blatti, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Pasadena City College (PCC), where she teaches General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General/Organic/Biochemistry, and Environmental Science. She leads an undergraduate research group through the early Career Undergraduate Research Experience program at PCC. Her research addresses biochemistry and environmental education, DNA nanotechnology, and the development of innovative educational activities that she implements in courses and outreach—including projects at the intersection of art and science. She leads the ‘Nanostars’ undergraduate research program at PCC in collaboration with Caltech, UCLA, and UCSB that focuses on DNA nanotechnology. This program has empowered twenty female students to become capable scientists and scholars on a pathway toward a successful STEM career. Jillian was part of the algae biotechnology community as a graduate student at UC San Diego where her research elucidated protein-protein interactions that enabled engineering fatty acid biosynthesis in microalgae for sustainable bioenergy. At UCSD Jillian began her outreach program for underrepresented students, setting up an algae biotechnology laboratory at an inner-city high school. She continued translating research at PCC into outreach lessons focused on modern science and technology, including recent modules based on the Nanostars’ research in DNA nanotechnology. With her research group she has developed engaging laboratory activities on systems thinking and sustainability science, algae bioenergy, natural artistic paints made through green chemistry, the art of microscopy (SEM, AFM, fluorescence microscopy), and DNA nanotechnology (DNA origami, DNA condensates). These laboratory activities are implemented in her courses at PCC and in STEM outreach to K-12 schools and diverse Los Angeles communities. Outside of science, her interests include music composition and performance, creating nanoart, exploring nature, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and hanging out with her family and Bengal cat.
Submitted by Maureen Scharberg, Chair Teacher-Scholar Award Committee
