Jasmina Waters and James Eagan receive 2024 Greater Akron Chamber "30 for the Future" Awards

Congratulations to Jasmina D. Waters and James M. Eagan, who have been honored with the 2024 Greater Akron Chamber "30 for the Future" award.

Jasmina D. Waters is the director of Choose Ohio First/Collegiate Success in the Office of Academic and Retention Support (OARS) at The University of Akron (UA). In her role, Waters reports to the vice provost for student pathways and the dean of the Williams Honors College. She provides leadership and operational direction for the Choose Ohio First Scholarship, Running Start Summer Bridge and Collegiate Success Programs. Her responsibilities include managing grant writing, budgets, scholarships and student support for all programs. Waters directly supervises professional staff and collaborates with academic and administrative units throughout the University to increase the graduation rates of underrepresented and/or first-generation students.

Prior to this role, Waters held several roles within the field of education, managing federal grants such as Aim High Akron GEAR UP within the Akron Public Schools and Kent State University's Upward Bound Classic Academy and Math Science Programs. An alumnus of Akron Public Schools and a native of Akron, she has over ten years of experience in grant writing/administration, fostering university and community partnerships, executing sustainable programming to address academic barriers, facilitating family and community engagement and building highly functioning teams. Waters holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a Master of Education in School Counseling and has begun her doctoral studies in Cultural Foundations.

James M. Eagan is an assistant professor of polymer science and polymer engineering at UA. The Eagan Lab focuses on researching sustainable polymers with an emphasis on recycling and CO₂ utilization. Eagan teaches both graduate and undergraduate classes in polymers and advises the undergraduate student organizations Engineers for a Sustainable World and Zips Precious Plastics, which lead outreach activities and manage on-campus recycling facilities. He serves in advisory roles to the Akron Polymer Industry Cluster and industry partners on sustainable material technologies.

Prior to this role, Eagan worked at Aramco Performance Materials and Ascribe Biosciences as a research scientist and director of chemistry. He obtained a Bachelor of Science from Emory University, a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from Columbia University, and completed postdoctoral studies at Cornell University.

For 17 years, the Greater Akron Chamber has honored 30 young professionals (ages 25-39) who are recognized as trendsetters in their industries, leaders in their organizations and in the community, and catalysts for growth and impact. Independent committees of the Greater Akron Chamber selected the finalists, nominated by members of the Chamber and regional profit and non-profit organizations.

This year’s recipients will be honored on Sept.12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. The event will feature a networking reception, dinner, and a chance to learn more about and celebrate these remarkable leaders. Event details are available here.

Please join UA in congratulating Waters and Eagan on their stellar accomplishments.