The official biography below was current at the time of the award. Awardees may choose to provide their latest biographical information on their profile page.

Dr. Richmond received her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California-Berkeley in 1980. Beginning her career as the only female tenure-track chemist in the physical sciences, Dr. Richmond began and has sustained over 15 years of mentoring undergraduate women and minorities into Ph.D. or M.D. careers. This most competitive nominee for the presidential mentoring award has managed to balance a "cutting edge" research program and an active family life with two young children, in addition to the following achievements: Director of the University of Oregon's Chemical Physics Institute. Recipient of the 1996 Garvan Medal from the American Chemical Society. Developer and director of summer research programs for students from non-research institutions. Numerous awards for teaching excellence. High visibility as a role model. No graduate student has left her lab without an M.S. or Ph.D. Impressive letters from students who have become peers in "high power" laboratories or industries across the country.