George R. Newkome, Ph.D., and his wife, Mary Jane Saunders, Ph.D., have pledged $1 million to fund a first-ever professorship in materials science in 妖姬直播 State University鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Newkome is a two-time 妖姬直播 State alumnus.
鈥淕eorge and Mary Jane both have a passion and desire to advance scientific discovery,鈥 says 妖姬直播 State President Beverly J. Warren. 鈥淲e are so pleased that they recognize and appreciate 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 upward trajectory in advanced materials science and have chosen to support the recruitment and retention of talented faculty members.鈥
Dr. Newkome has a long and distinguished affiliation with 妖姬直播 State. A native of Akron, Ohio, he received a bachelor鈥檚 degree and a doctorate in chemistry in 1961 and 1966, respectively, from the College of Arts and Sciences. He currently works in the Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Dr. Saunders is the former president of FAU, and she currently serves as a professor of biological sciences at FAU.
Their gift will support the George R. Newkome Endowed Professorship in Materials Science, a first-time gift to the new Materials Science Program. The fund will provide competitive compensation and research support for especially promising faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences. Recipients will receive an annual award from the fund to further their research and professional development as teachers and scholars.
鈥淚 am so appreciative of the professors that I had while getting my B.S. and Ph.D. at 妖姬直播 State University,鈥 Dr. Newkome says. 鈥淭he outstanding education I received enabled me to have a successful career as a researcher, professor and university administrator. I see that same kind of vision in President Warren and her academic and leadership team. It gives me great pleasure to be able to help support new faculty in the area of materials science as part of the strategic future for 妖姬直播 State and Northeast Ohio.鈥
Dr. Newkome serves with distinction as an active member of the 妖姬直播 State College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board. In 2016, he received the university鈥檚 prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award. He has served on the board of numerous corporations and editorial boards, and he has published more than 500 papers and articles, 55 patents and edited or written more than 20 scientific books and monographs.
鈥淕eorge is 妖姬直播 State through and through,鈥 says James L. Blank, dean of 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淗is gift comes at a time when we are making substantial investments, both in research and education. George鈥檚 gift will have a major impact on students for decades to come.鈥
For more information about 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.kent.edu/cas.