After a long and distinguished career as a chemist and educator at the California State University, Los Angeles, Lloyd N. Ferguson achieved emeritus status in 1986. In addition to teaching, Ferguson conducted important research on the relationship between the chemistry of organic compounds and properties such as odor and taste, alicycles (organic compounds with unusual molecular structures), and cancer chemotherapy during his years at California State. Despite all these accomplishments, Ferguson considers his efforts to encourage minority youth to pursue careers in science as one of his more significant contributions through the years. An active educator and writer, Ferguson has published six textbooks and numerous pedagogical articles, and he is the recipient of several awards, including the Distinguished Teaching award of the Manufacturing Chemists Association in 1974, the American Chemical Society award in chemical education in 1978, and the Outstanding Teaching award from the National Organization of Black Chemists in 1979.

Lloyd...