FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas Local Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) recently elected officers for the year 2004. Jackson O. Lay is now chair, and David Vicic was elected chair-elect.

Lay is the director of the UA Statewide Mass Spectrometry Facility. He spent 17 years at the National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Ark., directing the Food and Drug Administration’s largest research-oriented mass spectrometry facility before joining the U of A in 2002.

Vicic is an assistant professor in the organic division in the department of chemistry and biochemistry. He also joined the U of A in 2002 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology.

Continuing as secretary/treasurer is Bill Durham, chair of the department of chemistry and biochemistry. Neil Allison, Liebolt Chair of premedical sciences and vice-chair of the department of chemistry and biochemistry, continues as section councilor.

The UA Section is comprised of 110 members including professionals from the disciplines of chemistry, food science and engineering, as well as people outside the U of A in industry and those retired after many years of distinguished service.