Professor Babb worked at Rayonier, Inc, but then moved in 1952 to an academic position at the University of Washington. At Washington he developed the nuclear engineering program. Eventually, he moved into biochemical engineering where he developed a portable, single-patient dialystate machine, known more pithily as an “artificial kidney.”

After obtaining his PhD, Dr. Banholzer had a 22-year career with General Electric Company (GE), where he rose through the ranks to eventually become vice president of Global Technology at GE Advanced Materials, responsible for worldwide technology and engineering. In 2005 he joined the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan to his present position of Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Banholzer serves on the advisory board of our department and has been elected as a member of the governing council of the National Academy of Engineering. He was the department’s commencement speaker in 2004.

Upon completion of his Ph.D. degree at the California Institute of Technology in 1928, Dr. Beckman joined the faculty at that institution. In 1934 Dr. Beckman invented a portable meter for measuring the acidity of California lemons. The "Beckman acidometer" or pH meter as it came to be called, was the first of a series of successful inventions that made possible a revolution in scientific instrumentation. National Technical Laboratories was founded in 1935 (later renamed Beckman Instruments), and pioneering advances in measurement technology followed, including the Helipot, a precision electrical resistance device, and the DU spectrophotometer, which measured visible and ultraviolet light transmission. In 1997 Beckman Instruments merged with Coulter Corporation to form Beckman Coulter Corporation. As Beckman's instrument empire evolved beyond his personal control, he became free to devote more time to his philanthropic activities. Dr. Beckman and his wife Mabel M. Beckman contributed nearly $350 million to the advancement of research and education. The Beckman Institute here at Illinois is a fine example of their generosity. Other testaments to the Beckmans' beneficence can be seen in the creation of the Beckman Institute at the California Institute of Technology, the Beckman Laser Institute at the University of California at Irvine, Stanford University's Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Engineering, the Center for the History of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Beckman Research Institute at the City of Hope (an institute dedicated to the prevention and cure of life-threatening diseases situated in Duarte California).

Professor Bird is a towering figure in modern chemical engineering. As a Professor at the University of Wisconsin, where he has been since 1950, Bird outlined and unified the fundamental theories that govern transport phenomena in all chemical engineering processes. His book, Transport Phenomena, written with Stewart and Lightfoot, is the classic text of 20^th century chemical engineering. Professor Bird is a member of both the National Academy of Engineering and of Science. He is also a recipient of the National Medal of Science. Professor Bird was a recipient of the LAS alumni achievement award in 1989.

H. Scott Fogler is one of the most accomplished University of Illinois Chemical Engineering alumni in academia. Scott is the Ame and Catherine Vennema Distinguished Professor and the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1962 and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1965. Scott was Department Chairman from 1985 to 1990 at the University of Michigan and has been a faculty member there for over 40 years. He has published over 190 papers and is the author of Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering, now in its 4th edition, as well as Strategies for Creative Problem Solving, now in its 2nd edition. His Reaction Engineering book is used in approximately 75% of all Chemical Engineering curricula worldwide. He has won many research and teaching awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship, numerous named lectureships, and the American Society for Engineering Education Lifetime Achievement Award. He is credited for being the pioneer in creating CD-ROM modules for engineering education and is the key creator of the AIChE Chem-E Car Competition. Scott has graduated over 33 students from his research group who have examined various aspects of porous media characterization, human toxicity models, and snake bite phenomena.

After completing his B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota, he moved to Illinois where he obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees with Harry Drickamer. Professor Curtis Frank pursued a career in academia and joined Stanford University where he presently is the William M. Keck, Sr. Professor of Chemical Engineering. Professor Frank explores a wide range of materials, both from a fundamental point of view (e.g. organization at interfaces) as well as for specific applications (e.g. polymers in microelectronics, hydrogels for cell biology). Among many honors, Professor Frank is a recipient of the Stine Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

After obtaining a M.S. degree from MIT and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Professor Sheldon Friedlander pursued a career in higher education that carried him to Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Caltech and finally UCLA, where he was a professor of chemical engineering for nearly three decades, until just before his death in 2007. Dr. Friedlander was a leading scientist in aerosol research. His research helped identify the various pollutants in smog and quantify them by source which aided governments in refining environmental regulations.

Mr. Georges held several important positions at DuPont and later at International Paper Company where he was CEO and Chairman. As the world's largest paper and forest products company, International Paper owes much of its growth and success in the 1980s and 1990s to him. Mr. Georges was a driving force behind the company's modernization of its mills and product line as well as its numerous acquisitions during his tenure with the company.

Dr. Glas completed his Ph.D. with Prof. Westwater then joined DuPont where he rose through the ranks to become director, vice president, and general manager of DuPont's Fluorochemicals Division. He later became vice president and general manager of DuPont Fluoroproducts and in 1998 he was named Vice President and General Manager of DuPont's Biotechnology Division. Dr. Glas is the author of "Protecting the Ozone Layer: A Perspective from Industry," published in Technology and Environment (National Academy Press, 1989), and he also helped author a research study sponsored by the National Academy of Science, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine titled "Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming: Mitigation, Adaptation, and the Science Base".

Upon completing his Ph.D. here at Illinois, Dr. Hammack taught at Carnegie Mellon University. In 1998 he returned to Illinois where he is now a Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. Professor Hammack has become famous through his commentaries on public radio, which educate the public about the nature and role of engineering in our society. His work has been broadcast frequently on Marketplace, public radio's premier business program, and around the globe on Radio National Australia's Science Show with Robyn Williams. He has received many awards from journalistic, scientific, and engineering societies, including the Grady-Stack Medal from the American Chemical Society.

After graduation, Houston started his career with the Exxon refinery in Baton Rouge, LA which was followed by a rapid rise up the ranks, eventually reaching his current position of executive vice president of the ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company and chairman of Mobil Oil Shipping and Transportation. One of Houston's most memorable assignments came early in his career when he moved to Singapore to serve as deputy managing director of Esso Singapore in 1988 and then chairman and managing director in 1989. In addition, he helped plan the $80 billion merger transition of Mobil and Exxon in 1998; and his organizations within ExxonMobil have raised the industry bar in safety and environmental performance. He is serving as a founding member of the School of Chemical Sciences Leadership Council. He was a recipient of the LAS alumni achievement award in 2006.

After obtaining his Ph.D. degree, Dr. Houvouras was a postdoctoral assistant in Inorganic Chemistry here at Illinois. He then held managerial positions in several chemical companies like Rohm and Haas Company, DuPont (acetate fibers and Lycra business), Allied Chemical Corporation, and Getty Oil. To complete his career, he became a successful consultant and investor with Merrill Lynch.

Dr. Howell joined IBM in East Fishkill where he rapidly ascended through the ranks in several management and technical positions. He has held a number of engineering and management positions supporting development and manufacturing in semiconductor and microelectronic packaging technologies. He has also been a technical assistant to the IBM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Most recently he was the IBM Strategic Partnership Executive, responsible for the business and technical engagement between the Systems and Technology teams in the Systems and Technology Group. Presently, Dr. Howell is the Vice President for Design and Engineering of the IBM Systems and Technology Group, responsible for the design and product engineering of Entertainment and Embedded Processors. He was named one of IBM's top inventors in 1998 and currently holds more than 50 U.S. patents. Dr. Howell was the department's commencement speaker in 2006.

After receiving his B.S., Hudson continued his education, obtaining his M.S.E. from Princeton and his Ph.D. from Northwestern. He then returned to the University of Illinois as a professor from 1963 to 1974. Hudson is recognized for his work in studying complex dynamic chemical-reaction systems through experimentation and mathematical modeling. He is presently the Wills Johnson Professor at the University of Virginia.

Mr. Kozinski held senior management positions at Quaker Oats and British Petroleum/Amoco where he rose to Group Vice President. In February 2007, he was elected to the Board of Directors of Curtis-Wright Corporation, the aerospace, ground defense and industrial equipment company.

Upon graduation, Miller joined Shell in Houston. He was named vice president of refining and marketing in 1988, and after a stint in London with the Royal Dutch/Shell Group management team, he was named director of strategy and business services for the oil products business in 1996. He later he became a managing director of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. He returned to the U.S. in 1999 to become President and CEO of Shell Oil Company until his retirement in 2002. His many activities in the business and academic communities include member of the board of Applied Materials, a director for the American Petroleum Institute, member of Rice University's board of trustees, and President of the University of Illinois Foundation. Miller was the department’s commencement speaker in 2002. He was also the inaugural Parr Lecturer at the Noyes Lab Centennial celebration in 2002.

After obtaining his Ph.D. degree from California Institute of Technology and a stint as a postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he joined our faculty in 1999. As an associate professor, he presently pursues engineering approaches to advanced drug delivery systems, including the synthesis and design of artificial viruses.

Charles Prizer joined Rohm & Haas and advanced upward through management positions. At his retirement he was vice president. He has stayed very involved with Illinois. He and his late wife endowed the Charles J. Prizer and Dorothy Prizer Chair in Chemical Engineering to our department. The chair is presently held by Professor Richard C. Alkire. In 2003 he received the Dean's Quadrangle Award for his contributions to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Upon completing his Ph.D. degree in Princeton, Dr. Quinn returned to Illinois to join the faculty in chemical engineering in 1958. In 1971 he joined the University of Pennsylvania where he presently is the Robert B. Bent Professor. Throughout his career he performed pioneering research on transport through interfaces and membranes, for which he obtained many awards and was elected into the National Academy of Engineering.

After obtaining his Ph.D. degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Rakestraw embarked on a step career path in the biotech industry. Dr. Rakestraw held business development, R&D and marketing positions at DuPont, where he co-founded QualiconT LLC, a developer of rapid DNA diagnostics for the biochemical process industries and launched several other successful businesses. He also was responsible for directing the development and commercialization of two consecutive "R&D 100" award-winning genomics products. Subsequently, Dr. Rakestraw served as vice president of business development, general manager of the biomedical business unit and a member of the Board of Directors at Altus Biologics Inc. Next, he joined Orchid Cellmark (previously Orchid Biosciences) where he was Executive Director of Therapeutics Business Development. Dr Rakestraw is currently President of The Branta Group, a Pennsylvania-based investment firm. He was the department's commencement speaker in 2005.

Mr. Reese has held several management and technical positions at Intel including Vice President of the Technology and Manufacturing Group, and General Manager of Intel's worldwide supply network. Presently, he is Intel's Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Upon graduation Dr. Robb joined General Electric where he steadily moved up through the company's research organization. In 1986 he became the Vice President for Corporate Research and Development. Under his leadership GE became the world's leading producer of medical imaging equipment. For many years Robb led GE's Medical Systems business, which included major advances in computed tomography or CT scanning in the 1970's. In the 1980's he led GE in the implementation of strong superconducting magnets in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) thereby vastly improving its performance. Robb was awarded the National Medal of Technology by President Clinton for his foresight which led to widespread acceptance of imaging technology in hospitals and medical practices across the country. He is presently president and owner of Vantage Management, Inc., a firm located in Schenectady, NY that provides business and technical consulting to growing companies. He was a recipient of the LAS alumni achievement award in 2001. Dr. Robb was the department’s commencement speaker in 2001.

After obtaining his Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota, he joined the faculty at the University of Illinois in 1962. In 1979 he moved to the University of Notre Dame where he became the Keating-Crawford Professor. His research involved applied mathematics, modeling, and simulation of ecosystems. At Notre Dame Dr. Schmitz held several administrative positions: Chairman of Chemical Engineering, Dean of Engineering, Vice President, and Associate Provost.

After obtaining his PhD from the University of Minnesota and a one-year postdoctorate at Sandia National Labs, he joined the faculty here in Illinois where he is now a Professor and our Department Head. His research involves the experimental and theoretical study and control of semiconductor surface chemistry and transport at the nanoscale.

Dr. Sinfelt joined the Standard Oil Development Company now ExxonMobil where he performed research on noble metal catalyst. After developing a new approach to bimetallic catalysts, which he called "clusters," Sinfelt invented a superior platinum-iridium catalyst that was important in the quest to produce lead-free, high-octane gasolines cheaply. His work also provided a scientific base for other processes to produce petrochemicals in high volume.

Ms. Strohbeen has held many technical management positions at Kimberly-Clark. In recent years she has been the research director of family care research and development, and presently she is the director of product and technology development of KC's enterprise growth incubator. Ms. Strohbeen was the department's commencement speaker in 2007.

After World War II, Mr. Stuart joined the family business, the National Can Corporation, a Fortune 500 company where he rapidly ascended to the position of president and CEO. With his leadership, the company achieved the highest earnings for an entire decade among all publicly owned companies (Forbes magazine). He also managed to find the time and energy to lead and sometimes found dozens of service organizations. He has worked with and often led groups in youth development, health care, crime prevention, church life, education, and much more. For example, he was founding chairman of a development council that helps minority-owned companies obtain billions of dollars worth of business annually. He was a recipient of the LAS alumni achievement award in 2005.

Jack Welch is probably the most well known graduate of our department. Upon completion of his Ph.D. with Prof. Westwater, he joined GE plastics in Pittsfield, MA. In subsequent years he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming vice president of GE in 1972, senior vice president in 1977, vice chairman in 1979, and chairman and CEO in 1981, a position he held until his retirement in 2001. Welch gained a reputation for uncanny business acumen and unique leadership strategies at GE. During his tenure, GE increased its market capitalization from $14 billion to over $400 billion. He remains a highly-regarded figure in business circles due to his innovative management strategies and leadership style. Welch wrote a number of books on his career and his approach to successful business leadership.

After receiving his B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Mr. Widdowson successfully obtained his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1948. He became an attorney and started a law practice, John H. Widdowson Law Offices (subsequently Widdowson and Carpenter), in Wichita, Kansas. In Septmeber 2002 Mr. Widdowson received the Dean's Quadrangle Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.