The Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois

The Roger Adams fund supports the Roger Adams Professorship in Chemistry.  Established in 1968 upon the initiative of John C. Bailar and H. S. Gutowsky as a general use fund, this fund has in recent years found incredible utility as support for a professorship.  Entitled the Roger Adams Professorship, this position has been held by such faculty as Steven C. Zimmerman, current Head of the Chemistry Department.

In 1916 Roger Adams arrived at the University of Illinois.  For many years, he enjoyed a long association with the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Beginning as an Assistant Professor, his career at Illinois spanned fifty-six years, until his death in 1971. Known as "The Chief", he served as Department Head from 1926-1954. Additionally, he worked as personal research director for 198 Illinois Ph.D. recipients and many more postdoctoral research associates and fellows. While the education and training of these chemists were his primary concern, he selected their research problems for interest and potential significance.

He was the recipient of numerous awards for science, philanthropy, national service, and the arts. His contributions to the University of Illinois were acknowledged by the naming of the "east chemistry" building in his honor, Roger Adams Laboratory, in 1972.

(Taken from Illinois Department of Chemistry webpage http://chemistry.uiuc.edu/about/illini_chemists/Roger_Adams.html)

Click here to make a donation to the Roger Adams fund.