HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | OCTOBER 2025 58 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORNER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORNER ASM Celebrates Milestones and Fall Meetings As we look ahead to IMAT in Detroit—ASM’s signature event showcasing the latest in materials, applications, and technologies—we are also preparing for another important milestone: the annual transition in Society leadership. This October, Navin Manjooran, FASM, will complete his year of service as President of ASM International’s Board of Trustees, moving into the Immediate Past President role, while Elizabeth Hoffman, FASM, will begin her term as ASM’s President. Manjooran has guided ASM through a challenging yet rewarding year—one marked by significant progress in strengthening our Society and ensuring its relevance for the next century. His final column on the previous page highlights some of the Society’s accomplishments during his tenure. Hoffman will build upon this foundation, leading the implementation of annual Society initiatives aligned with the 2026–2030 ASM Strategic Plan, adopted by the board this summer. IMAT, our largest and most dynamic event of the year, offers a full slate of protocol and special gatherings. On October 20, the ASM Leadership Luncheon will honor our committee chairs and scholarship recipients. (See Becker winners on page 53.) On October 21, we will celebrate excellence at our annual Awards Dinner, recognizing distinguished awardees and welcoming our newest class of Fellows. And for the first time, attendees will have the opportunity to attend our Executive Leadership Forum, as highlighted in Manjooran’s column. Beyond these signature moments, IMAT reflects the vibrancy of our community. Throughout the week, committees will convene, competitions will take place, and colleagues will connect at receptions and networking events. On the show floor, the ever-popular ASM DomesDay competition will showcase the creativity and engineering of university teams, culminating in the thrilling final test against the compression machine. This year, IMAT once again co-locates with the Heat Treat Conference & Exposition, organized by the ASM Heat Treating Society (HTS). This gathering—the largest in the world for heat treating professionals—brings ASM back to its roots and strengthens our shared community. Finally, don’t miss the Show Preview for our ISTFA conference in Pasadena this November, the premier event for the microelectronics failure analysis community. I look forward to connecting with many of you in Detroit as we celebrate achievements, welcome new leadership, and continue to advance the Society together. Veronica Becker Executive Director, ASM International veronica.becker@asminternational.org Wilson FROM THE FOUNDATION Celebrating Leadership Continuity For 73 years, the ASM Materials Education Foundation has been inspiring students to explore careers in materials science and engineering. As we close out one chapter and look toward the future, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Julio Maldonado as he concludes his two-year term as our Board Chair. Julio’s leadership was marked by a passionate commitment to inclusivity and expanding access to our programs. His work strengthened our professional development initiatives, ensuring they reach students and educators in underserved communities. Under his guidance the Foundation reinforced its mission to make materials science accessible to all, developing new avenues to broaden our reach to the next generation of engineers. His lasting impact is deeply appreciated. I am also proud to welcome Dr. Kip Findley, FASM, a distinguished professor at the Colorado School of Mines, as our incoming Board Chair. Kip brings a perspective focused on the future of the materials science and engineering field. His expertise and forward-thinking approach will be invaluable as we continue to adapt and innovate, preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow’s technical landscape. I am confident his leadership will guide us in exploring new possibilities and ensuring our educational programs remain at the forefront of the profession. The transition of leadership from Julio to Kip reflects the richness and diversity of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. We are proud of our board’s broad range of perspectives across the materials field. This critical asset strengthens our collective impact and enables us to better serve the communities we support. As we celebrate Julio’s immense contributions and welcome Kip’s leadership, the Foundation remains stead-
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