JSNN Researcher Elected to National Board for Cultivating STEM Professionals

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 1, 2026) – Michael Curry, Ph.D., a nanoengineering professor at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN), has been elected as a board member at large of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE).

NOBCChE is known for cultivating excellence in STEM fields by “building talented leaders in science, engineering, and technology.”

“I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the NOBCChE community and I am honored and humbled to have been elected to serve as a board member at large,” said Curry. “I accept this opportunity with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose. For more than 21 years, I have embraced challenges as opportunities to fail forward, grow stronger, build partnerships, and advance the missions of scientific organizations and communities I have been privileged to serve.”

Curry is an expert in developing alternative solutions to synthetic polymers in sustainable, biodegradable materials. He received a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and a B.S. in chemistry from the University of West Alabama.

Curry joined the nanoengineering department at JSNN as a full professor in 2023, after serving in various faculty positions in the chemistry departments at Tuskegee University and The University of West Alabama, respectively.

He has been granted two patents, and has been a champion for driving innovation and mentorship at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He serves as the Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s inaugural tech transfer and commercialization fellow and advises students like Hoda Motaghed, who is leading an interdisciplinary team as they develop Woundra, a hydrogel protype that would revolutionize wound care.

“I look forward to bringing that same commitment, vision, integrity, and action to NOBCChE as we work together to strengthen our organization, expand its impact, and amplify our collective voice,” he said. “Most importantly, I am committed to creating greater opportunities for the next generation of STEM leaders and ensuring that NOBCChE remains a powerful force for scientific excellence, professional advancement, and community impact. Together, we will build the blueprint, guard the mission, and shape the future of NOBCChE and the scientific community we serve.”