Isiah M. Warner was born in DeQuincy, LA (Calcasieu Parish) on July 20, 1946. However, he spent his formative years (from the age of two) in Bunkie, LA (Avoyelles Parish) where he attended Carver Elementary and High School. His interest in science developed at an early age (two years old) when he orally sampled kerosene to determine why this odd smelling liquid was able to produce light. After a stay in the hospital, he put his science career on hold until the age of twelve when he received his first chemistry set. Needless to say, he did not resume his oral sampling technique and instead relied on smell and visual observations. From that point on, there was no getting rid of the science bug. He took every science course that was offered at Carver High, graduating Valedictorian of his high school class in 1964.

The schools were still segregated in Louisiana and he was offered a full scholarship to Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA (Historically Black College and University). Between his high school graduation and freshmen year in college, he attended a summer institute in chemistry at Southern University. After this program, the Chair of Chemistry at Southern offered him the opportunity to skip the first year of chemistry if he majored in chemistry, an opportunity which he quickly accepted. He graduated Cum Laude from Southern University with a B.S. Degree in 1968.

After working for Battelle Northwest in Richland, WA for five years, he attended graduate school in chemistry at the University of Washington, receiving his Ph.D. in chemistry (analytical) in June 1977. He was assistant professor of chemistry at Texas A&M University from 1977-1982. He was awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor effective September 1982. However, he elected to join the faculty of Emory University as associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 1986. Dr. Warner was named to an endowed chair at Emory University in September 1987, and was the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Chemistry until he left in August 1992. During the 1988/89 academic year, he was on leave to the National Science Foundation (NSF) as Program Officer for Analytical and Surface Chemistry. In August 1992, Dr. Warner joined Louisiana State University as Philip W. West Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry. He was Chair of the Chemistry Department from July 1994-97, and was appointed Boyd Professor of the LSU System in July 2000. In April 2001, Dr. Warner was appointed the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives.

The primary research emphasis of Dr. Warner’s research group is the development and application of improved methodology (chemical, mathematical, and instrumental) for studies of complex chemical systems. His research interests include (1) fluorescence spectroscopy, (2) separation science, (3) nanomaterials, (4) automated methods of analysis, (5) chemistry in organized media and (6) environmental chemistry.

Dr. Warner has more than 300 published or in-press articles in refereed journals since 1975. He has given more than 400 invited talks since 1979. He currently has six patents with four more pending. He has chaired forty-one doctoral theses since 1982 and is currently supervising fifteen other Ph.D. theses.

Dr. Warner’s many honors include:

• Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS) Fellows, 2010
• Minority Access National Role Model Award, 2009
• American Chemical Society Fellow-Inaugural class, 2009
• ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Award in Spectrochemical Analysis, 2008
• National Academies Advisory Panel for the Committee on Underrepresented Groups and the Expansion of the Science and Engineering Workforce Pipeline, October 23, 2008.
• Association of Analytical Chemists (Anachem) Award, 2007
• Included in Marquis Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, 2007
• Southern Chemist Award, ACS Memphis Section, 2006
• Banneker Legacy Award, Benjamin Banneker Institute, 2006
• Juror for the Joshiah Willard Gibbs Medal Jury, ACS Chicago Section, 2006
• National Research Council member of the Committee on Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures, 2005-2007
• National Academies Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century, 2005
• Included in 60th Diamond Anniversary Edition of Who’s Who in America, 2005
• Marquette University, honorary Doctor of Science degree, 2005
• Charles E. Coates Award, ACS local section, 2005
• Tuskegee University, George Washington Carver Achievement Award, 2005
• Recognized by the House of Representatives of The Louisiana Legislature during a joint session of the Louisiana Congress for Outstanding Accomplishments and Contributions to Louisiana State University, 2004
• University of Washington, College of Arts & Sciences, Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2004
• Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network Giants in Science Award, 2004
• Elected to the status of Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Council, 2003
• Sigma Xi’s College of Distinguished Lecturers, 2003-2005
• ACS Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences, 235th National Meeting for the American Chemical Society, 2003
• Council for Chemical Research (CCR) Diversity Award, 2003
• National Research Council member of the Committee on Challenges for the Chemical Sciences in the 21st Century, Organizing Committee for the Workshop on Environment, 2002-2003
• Named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, Louisiana State University, 2002
• Listed in America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals, 2002
• Listed in Empire Who’s Who, 2002
• Boyd Professorship, Louisiana State University, 2001
• Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Hall of Fame Inductee, Southern University, 2001
• Lloyd Ferguson lecturer, Cal State, Los Angeles, CA, 2001
• LSU Distinguished Faculty Award, 2000
• Eastern Analytical Symposium Award for Achievements in the Fields of Analytical Sciences, 2000
• Listed in the 18th Edition of Who’s Who in the World
• Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching/CASE Louisiana Professor of the Year, 2000
• AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award, 2000
• Fullbright Fellowship for Research/Teaching in Kenya, 1998
• National Academies, Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, Chemical Sciences Roundtable, 1997-2001
• Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring, 1997
• Southern University Award for the “Most Outstanding Graduate from the Southern University Department of Chemistry”, 1996
• Proctor & Gamble award for “Continuing Support for Education & Diversity in Analytical Chemistry”, 1996
• Chair of the NRC Board on Assessment of the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (NIST Committee), 1995
• International Who’s Who of Professionals, 1995
• National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) “Distinguished Alumni Award”, 1995
• American Microchemical Society “Bennedetti-Pichler Award”, 1994
• National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers Award for “Outstanding Teacher” at their 20th Annual Meeting, 1993
• Chair of External Review Committee, Division of Analytical Chemistry, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1993
• Member of the NRC Board on Assessment of the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (NIST Committee), 1992-1995
• Philip W. West Chair in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Louisiana State University, 1992
• The Charles Holmes Herty Medal awarded by the Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society, 1992
• 1992 Faculty Appreciation Award, Office of Multi-cultural Programs and Services, Emory University, 1992
• Vice Chairman Elect of the 1991 Analytical Gordon Conference and Chairman Elect of 1992 Analytical Gordon Conference, 1991-2
• Listed in American Men and Women in Science, 1991
• 1991 New York Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS) Gold Medal, 1991
• Discussion Leader and Lecturer at the Gordon Conference in Analytical Chemistry, New Hampton, NH, 1990
• Ralph Metcalfe Lecturer at Marquette University, 1988
• Percy Julian Award for Outstanding and Significant Contribution in Research, sponsored by the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, 1988
• Samuel Candler Dobbs Chair in Analytical Chemistry, 1987
• Nominee for inclusion in the 1985 Esquire Register, 1985
• National Advisory Research Resources Council for NIH for the period December 1, 1985 to June 15, 1990, 1985
• International Directory of Distinguished Leadership, Vol. 2, 1985
• Who’s Who in Frontiers of Science and Technology, 1985
• Recipient of 1984 Presidential Young Investigator Award, 1984-1989
• Member of National Academy of Science Advisory Panel for Center for Analytical Chemistry at the National Bureau of Standards, 1983-86
• Listed in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, 1978 – 1981
• Texas A&M nominee for Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, 1979
• Recipient of Outstanding Graduate Research Award of National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBBChE), 1976
• Summer Fellow, ACS, Division of Analytical Chemistry, 1975