Debbie C. Crans (University of California, Los Angeles postdoc 1985-1986, Harvard University Ph.D. 1985, University of Copenhagen B.S. 1978) is a University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University in the Department of Chemistry and in Cell and Molecular Biology Program. Debbie is involved in the governance of the American Chemical Society and have hosted one of the Regional Meeting in Colorado in 2020, the 45th International Coordination Chemistry Conference in 2024 and the International Vanadium Symposia in 1997 and 2006. Debbie is a Fellow of ACS, AAAS, the Royal Society and has garnered many awards including the ACS Award for Distinguished Service and Outstanding Research in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, The Arthur P. Cope Scholar Award, the Inaugural Vanadis Award, the Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences and received the Best Teacher Award, Colorado State University. Debbie has mentored more than 300 students at all levels of education and received the Best Teacher Award, Colorado State University. Debbie research interests are in chemical biology, biological, bioinorganic, and bioorganic chemistry. Her areas of expertise include metal in medicine, coordination chemistry, speciation, metallodrugs, lipoquinones and hydrophobic compounds involved in the electron transport chain and spectroscopy.