Cherese Winstead, PhD
Dr. Cherese Winstead is an accomplished scientist, educator, and transformational leader dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and access to STEM education. She serves as Dean of the College of Agriculture, Science & Technology (CAST) at Delaware State University, where she is also a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry. Prior to becoming Dean, she spent more than ten years leading the Department of Chemistry as Chair, helping to strengthen academic excellence, expand research opportunities, and foster student success.
Dr. Winstead earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and joined the Delaware State University faculty in 2008. Since then, she has built an impressive record of achievement in research, teaching, and service. Throughout her career, she has successfully secured and managed more than $60.4 million in funding as Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, and key personnel on a wide range of interdisciplinary initiatives.
Her work is recognized for building meaningful collaborations across academic institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners at the regional, national, and international levels. Through these partnerships, Dr. Winstead has championed innovative approaches that integrate research, education, and community engagement to address critical scientific and societal challenges.
An active contributor to the scientific and educational community, Dr. Winstead serves on numerous boards, committees, and advisory groups that influence the future of science and higher education. Her professional affiliations include the American Chemical Society, Materials Research Society, Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Delaware NASA Space Grant Consortium, Delaware Comprehensive Sickle Cell Research Center, and the Delaware Science Coalition.
Beyond her academic leadership, Dr. Winstead has demonstrated a lifelong passion for mentorship and expanding access to STEM opportunities for underserved communities. She is the Founder and President of the Young Chemists Society (YCS) and Helping Young People Excel (H.Y.P.E.), two nonprofit organizations that have provided science and mathematics enrichment, mentorship, and educational programming to underrepresented students for more than twenty years.
Dr. Winstead’s national leadership and impact were further recognized through her appointment by Joe Biden to serve two terms on the National Medal of Science Committee. Established by Congress in 1959, the committee is responsible for recommending recipients of the National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest scientific honor. She was also recently appointed by the Governor of Delaware to serve on the Water Infrastructure Advisory Council (WIAC), contributing her expertise to statewide initiatives focused on infrastructure and sustainability. Dr. Winstead also leads the Center of Excellence on Emerging Technologies, one of the six 1890 Centers of Excellence.
Through visionary leadership, groundbreaking scholarship, and unwavering dedication to service, Dr. Winstead continues to inspire the next generation of scientists, broaden participation in STEM, and drive impactful research and innovation that benefits communities locally, nationally, and globally.