Diane Grob Schmidt

Diane Grob Schmidt (born November 1945) is an American chemist, who was the executive at Procter & Gamble Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1981 to 2014.^[1][2] In 2015, she served as president of the American Chemical Society (ACS).^[3] As of 2022, she was serving as the chair of the board of visitors for the department of chemistry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.^[4]

Diane Grob Schmidt
Alma mater	University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1967) University of Tennessee Knoxville University of Cincinnati (1981)
Scientific career
Fields	Organic Chemistry, Cosmetic Chemistry
Institutions	Procter & Gamble

Education

Diane Grob Schmidt grew up in Lorain, Ohio, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.^[1] She graduated from Red Bank High School in the class of 1963. She received her A.B. from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1967,^[5] her M.S. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and her Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 1981.^[1]

Career

Diane Grob Schmidt joined Procter & Gamble Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1981 and retired in 2014.^[1] She was appointed as a senior scientist from 1992 to 1997 and as section head beginning in 1997.^[6] As a section head, she was responsible for safety and regulatory affairs.^[7] She has also been an adjunct professor in the department of chemistry in the University of Cincinnati.^[5]

Diane Grob Schmidt holds a number of patents, including a patent for Pert Plus shampoo and conditioner formula. She led the team of scientists at Procter & Gamble who developed Pert Plus, the first combined shampoo and conditioner.^[8]

She has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists and the Journal of Chemical Health & Safety.^[9]

Diane Grob Schmidt is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the American Industrial Hygiene Association.^[6] She has been a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) since 1968 and has held a wide variety of positions whose scope has included chemical health and safety, and chemistry & the law.^[6] These included three consecutive terms on the board of directors.^[7] In 2015, she became president of the American Chemical Society (ACS).^[3] Her presidential theme was “Inspiring and Innovating for Tomorrow.”^[1] She co-edited 5 books while in the Presidential succession and wrote introductions and chapters in each.

Awards and honors

• 2016, Fellow, National Academy of Inventors^[10]
• 2016, Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science^[11]
• 2014, Distinguished Alumna of the University of Cincinnati^[12]
• 2012, Henry A. Hill Award, ACS Division of Professional Relations^[13]
• 2011, Fellow, American Chemical Society^[14]
• 2004, Fellow, ACS Chemical Health & Safety Division^[6]
• 1995, Distinguished Alumna, from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga^[5]
• 1994, Distinguished Scientist of Cincinnati, from the Engineers and Scientists of Cincinnati (first woman so honored)^[6]
• Sigma Xi (life member)
• Iota Sigma Pi (life member)