The ALS Association Appoints Kim Ann Mink, Ph.D. to National Board of Trustees

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Nov 14, 2012, 05:28 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ALS Association has appointed Kim Ann Mink, Ph.D. as a member of The ALS Association's National Board of Trustees. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, named for the New York Yankee Hall of Famer who died of ALS. Mink currently serves as president of Dow Elastomers, Electrical and Telecommunications for The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Eventually, people with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis. For unknown reasons, veterans are twice as likely to die from ALS as the general population. There is no cure, and only one drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration modestly extends survival.

Mink's family has been touched twice by ALS. After a five-year battle with the disease, Mink's mother died from ALS in 2003. A short time later, her mother-in-law was diagnosed with ALS and died just four months later. As a result, Mink is doubly motivated to join The ALS Association in the fight against this devastating disease.

"I am very excited to participate on the Board of Trustees. My passion for and commitment to the fight to cure ALS is grounded in my personal experience with this devastating disease," said Kim Ann Mink. "Being on the Board is a wonderful way to remember our Mothers and to help those who are currently battling the disease."

Mink holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Hamilton College and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Duke University. In addition, she is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business Management Program. This combined with more than 20 years of leadership experience at Dow positions Mink as an outstanding addition to The Association's National Board of Trustees.

In addition, Kim Ann Mink is a member of the Catalyst Board of Advisors. Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit membership organization working globally with businesses to build inclusive workplaces and expand opportunities for women and business.

"The ALS Association is proud to welcome Kim Ann to our National Board of Trustees," said The ALS Association President and CEO Jane H. Gilbert. "She has exceptional leadership qualities and a strong passion for our mission to create a world without ALS."

About The ALS Association
The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig's Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships. The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about The ALS Association, visit our website at www.alsa.org.

SOURCE The ALS Association