McNair Symposium Keynote Speakers

Dr. James Walker, Ph.D. is a distinguished scientist and leader at Dow Chemical, where he has made significant contributions since joining in 2018. Through the Research Assignments Program (RAP), Dr. Walker has excelled in various roles, including synthesizing silicone acrylate prepolymers and discovering new synthetic routes for polyolefin catalyst ligands. His expertise spans multiple organizations within Dow, including Chemical Science, Engineered Materials Product Development (EMPD), and Laminating Adhesives Technical Services & Development.

Currently, Dr. Walker serves as the R&D Leader for the Engineered Materials Product Development team. He has led efforts to evaluate the thermal stability of silicone-based thermally conductive gap fillers for the mobility & transportation markets and has been instrumental in the commercialization of DOWSIL™ TC-5960 Thermally Conductive Compound for the consumer electronics market. Additionally, he spearheads digitalization initiatives as the EMPD North America Digitalization Leader, integrating data science and modeling into daily lab activities.

Dr. Walker holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Iowa State University and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati. He is a McNair Scholar alumnus, author of seven peer-reviewed articles, and inventor on six patent applications and two granted patents. His dedication to STEM outreach and Inclusion, Diversity & Equity initiatives is evident through his active participation and recognition, including awards from the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the K-12 Presidential Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). Dr. Walker also serves on the board of directors for Adoption Option Incorporated, further showcasing his commitment to community and diversity. Dr. Walker has been featured in ACS Industry Matters, and he continues to be a respected voice in the scientific community, contributing to both industry advancements and societal impact.

Dr. Angelica Hardee, Ph.D., MCHES serves as Vice President of Community Impact at the American Heart Association, leading Greater Cincinnati/NKY’s community health initiatives. In this role, she provides leadership focused on addressing the region's top health priorities by leading work related to hypertension, e-cigarette/tobacco use, and healthy food access. She aims to make the community the most equitable and healthy region in the United States. Dr. Hardee is leading policy, system, and environmental changes focused on decreasing individuals with uncontrolled hypertension. Educating youth on the dangers of E-Cigarette use. Creating policies and programming to improve access to healthy food and convening researchers, physicians, and advocates sharing best practices. She engages with community organizations and neighborhood coalitions to identify their health & wellness priorities. In addition, Dr. Hardee serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati and Tulane University, focusing on public health program planning, development, and evaluation.

Dr. Hardee is dedicated to addressing health-related social needs in the community. She is serving her third term as a Governing Councilor for the Community Health Planning and Policy Development section of the American Public Health Association. She also advocates for higher education and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Cincinnati (UC). Dr. Hardee is passionate about her community and serves as Past President of the Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Southwestern Ohio. With her involvement, she plans to help young professionals become civically engaged in identifying and addressing issues of public concern and making a difference in the community. Dr. Hardee also serves on the governing boards throughout the city and healthcare fields. She also mentors many high school students, college students, and young adults.

Before her current role, Dr. Hardee was Senior Manager of Gen-H, Greater Cincinnati/NKY population health agenda. She led the 35 hospitals, 28 local health departments, and the 25-county Regional Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Implementation Plan. Dr. Hardee began her career at UC, completing her doctorate while teaching Epidemiology, Global Health, Environmental Health, and many others. In addition, Dr. Hardee collaborated on multiple publications focused on maternal and child health. Dr. Hardee is a native of Cleveland, OH, and a three-time alumna of the University of Cincinnati. She received her bachelor's, master's, and doctorate in public health, health policy, and global health systems.