Michael Graham, Chair (View larger image)

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

ell, it’s been a while. The last issue of ON THESE FOUNDATIONS appeared in the summer of 2005, shortly before the department’s hugely successful centennial celebration. If you missed it, check out the department website (www.engr.wisc.edu/che) to see Bob Bird’s and Harmon Ray’s talks about the department’s history, Jim Rawling’s talk on the department’s present and future, pictures, and more.

In this newsletter you’ll find information on how to purchase Bob Bird’s monumental book on the history of the department, "100 Years of Chemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin."

It’s been a busy two years for the department—challenging and exciting. On the challenging side, the department, college and university continue to face budget and staff reductions and constraints (which, in part, explains the delay in getting this newsletter out to you). We are continually thankful for the generous support of alumni and friends, which helps the department to continue to thrive in a financially difficult environment.

On the exciting side, in July we were joined by two new faculty members; Brian Pfleger and Jennifer Reed. Both Jennie and Brian are academic descendants of our own Ed Lightfoot (Jennie an academic “granddaughter,” Brian a “great-grandson”). We are pleased to have attracted both Brian and Jennie to Madison and we know we will see great things from them. Look for more information on their appointments in the next (not too distant!) issue of our newsletter.

Another big change for the department is the retirement, last September, of Charlie Hill. Charlie joined the faculty in 1967, becoming a leader both within the department and in the profession at large.

Tom Kuech’s term as department chair ended in June last year. We are grateful to Tom for his service and leadership. He brought us into our second century, adding new faculty (Christos Maravelias), new facilities (including a renovated polymer synthesis instructional lab and new research and graduate student space in the basement) and new elements to the curriculum, rounding out the department’s transition from Chemical Engineering to Chemical and Biological Engineering.

After reading this newsletter, I think you’ll agree that the department is off to a great start in its second century.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Graham,
Harvey D. Spangler Professor and Chair
2020 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Dr.
Madison, WI 53706

Phone: 608/262-1092
Fax: 608/262-5434
E-mail: che@che.wisc.edu

College of Engineering   Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering  University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Date last modified: Monday, 24-March-2008 15:43:00 CDT
Date created: 24-March-2008