John C. Nemeth

Executive Director & CEO, Sigma Xi
Publisher, American Scientist

Subsequent to a very successful environmental consulting career, John Nemeth was at Georgia Tech for 15 years, within the Georgia Tech Research Institute where he 1) Directed the Environmental Science and Technology Laboratory with research emphasis on detection and management of toxic materials and prevention of environmental and occupational exposures; 2) served on the senior staff of the GTRI $100 million per year enterprise responsible for strategic planning, business development, institute operations; and he managed the GTRI state appropriations process; and 3) was also jointly appointed as professor in three Schools teaching and serving on graduate committees.

In 1998, John became the vice president of Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), the largest science- and technology-based university consortium in the US. He developed ORAU’s University Partnerships enterprise into a consortium consisting of 122 campuses, including 99 major research institutions, over fifty of which had medical schools and health-related centers. He worked routinely with presidents, vice presidents for research and academic affairs, deans, and most importantly young faculty, and became quite experienced in a broad array of public and private university administrative and business development processes.  He retired from ORAU in 2009.

John vows that his efforts will center on attracting young members, invigorating the more mature membership, promoting the growth and activity of all our Chapters, and helping to assure long-lived relevance of Sigma XI, THE Scientific Research Society.  He holds a PhD and MS from North Carolina State University and a BS from Appalachian State University.