Amy Cheng Vollmer, microbiologist and Isaac H. Clothier Jr. Professor Emerita of Biology received a fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), recognizing her “distinguished contributions to the field of microbiology, particularly for understanding bacterial responses to environmental stressors, as well as for promoting science literacy.”

Becoming an AAAS fellow is a lifetime honor and among the highest distinctions in the scientific community. The program honors scientists, engineers, and innovators whose efforts are scientifically or socially distinguished.

AAAS is one of the world's largest general scientific societies and publisher of the Science family of journals. Vollmer is among nearly 500 scientists, engineers, and innovators who have been elected 2025 fellows. She is one of at least four Swarthmore faculty members to receive the honor, following Professor of Linguistics and Social Justice Donna Jo Napoli, Morris L. Clothier Professor Emeritus of Physics Peter Collings, and Howard A. Schneiderman ’48 Professor Emeritus in Biology Scott Gilbert.

“It's a recognition of Swarthmore because of all of the support, resources, and people,” says Vollmer, “and it doesn't hurt that we get to work in a park-like setting.” 

Vollmer, who was the only microbiologist on campus for 33 years, says she was able to stay professionally active in her field as a result of the College’s support. She says she “cannot imagine having as fulfilling of a career anywhere else” but Swarthmore, crediting the support that the College provides to faculty for sabbaticals, faculty research, and travel. Students, faculty, and staff at the College made a substantial impact on her career, says Vollmer.

Swarthmore’s bright, imaginative students kept her on her toes, she says.

“They kept me sharp, and I learned from them as much as they learned from me.”

When she was first hired, Vollmer looked up to her senior colleagues in the Biology Department, and as she became a senior faculty member, she was inspired by her younger colleagues.

“My colleagues challenged me to be better than I thought I could be,” she adds.

Vollmer praises the Biology Department's incredible staff support. Without their work and support, she says she would not have thrived at the College. 

“It takes a whole community to support careers and I was lucky enough to get hired by Swarthmore,” she says.

Vollmer shares that her late parents played a significant role in shaping her career as a scientist and educator. Her dad, a chemist, subscribed to Science magazine and introduced her to scientific research in her childhood. Her mother encouraged her to pursue teaching as a profession because she thought Vollmer would be good at it. 

“I regret that they have both passed away, because I’d bring them to the induction ceremony in D.C.,” says Vollmer, who will bring her son and daughter.

Vollmer retired from Swarthmore in 2022 after teaching for more than three decades and serving as director of the Summer Scholars Program (S3P) from 2017 to 2021.

Read more about her research and the achievements of the Vollmer laboratory.