2023 CBE Distinguished Alumni Awardees

Distinguished Alumni Awards

CBE Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor that CBE can bestow on our alumni. This exceptional honor celebrates and recognizes the exemplary contributions our outstanding graduates have made to their profession, their community, and their department, college or university. Furthermore, the Award winners will serve as an inspiration for current and future students. With more than 6,000 CBE alumni, we plan to induct four alumni each year for the foreseeable future, making this a noteworthy distinction.

Criteria for the Distinguished Alumni Award

Nominees should have demonstrated exceptional professional, entrepreneurial and/or service achievements in their selected careers. We acknowledge that our alumni excel in many respects, and instead of rigid criteria, we will look at the following general selection considerations, of which not all need be met:

  • Professional achievement
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Community and/or Public Service
  • Service to the Engineering Profession
  • Service to NC State and especially to the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

 

Criteria for Young Alumni Award

Additionally, we will present a single Young Alumni Award each year. This is for a CBE graduate who received his/her degree within the past 15 years. The considerations for selection are the same as for the Distinguished Alumni Award, but recognition of this individual will occur at an earlier stage in his/her career.

Nomination Process

Complete a CBE Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form and submit to Dr. Russ O’Dell via email (russ_odell@ncsu.edu — SUBJECT: CBE Distinguished or CBE Young Alumni) or by postal mail to the following address:

Dr. Russ O’Dell
NC State CBE Department
Campus Box 7905
Raleigh, NC 27695-7905

Should you have questions, please contact CBE’s Director of Alumni Relations, Dr. Russ O’Dell directly at russ_odell@ncsu.edu or at 919-513-2071.

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

Class of 2023

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Trent A. Carrier

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1994
  • Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, U. California-Berkeley, 1998
  • Associate Director, Vaccine Technology, Merck, 1998
  • Sr. Director, Bioprocess Development, Life Technologies, 2005
  • MBA, University of Virginia, 2010
  • Chief Business Officer, Biologics Consulting Group, 2011
  • VP, Vaccine Technology and Engineering, Takeda, 2014
  • CEO, SytoSen Therapeutics, 2018
  • COO, L7 Informatics, 2019

 

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Herbert H. Hooper

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1985
  • Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, U. California-Berkeley, 1990
  • Research Scientist, Air Products and Chemicals, 1990
  • Founder, ACLARA Biosciences, 1993
  • Partner, Ampersand Capital Partners, 2002
  • General Partner, Ampersand Capital Partners, 2004
  • Managing Partner, Ampersand Capital Partners, 2008
  • Served as director of over 20 companies including Alcami, Arranta Bio, Avista Pharma, Brammer Bio, Genoptix and Nexelis

 

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John C. O’Quinn

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering and B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies, NC State, 1996
  • MSc, Environmental Change and Mgmt., U. Oxford, 1997
  • MS, Chemical Engineering Practice, MIT, 1998
  • JD, Harvard Law School, 2001
  • Law Clerk for Justice Scalia, U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Sentelle, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, 2001
  • Associate, Kirkland & Ellis, 2003
  • Deputy Associate Attorney General, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 2006
  • Partner, Kirkland & Ellis, 2009

 

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Amanda Monroe Taylor

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1990
  • Engineer, Dow Chemical, 1990
  • Engineer, Merck, 1991
  • Maintenance Superintendent, Merck, 2001
  • Director, Maintenance, Merck, 2005
  • Director, Biotechnology IPT Leader, Merck, 2007
  • Director, Vaccine Operations, Merck, 2011
  • Executive Director, Merck, 2016
  • Vice President / Plant Manager, Merck, 2020

 

Class of 2022

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Billy Bardin

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1995
  • M.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, 1997
  • Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, 2000
  • R&D Director for Basic Chemicals and the Dow Technology Licensing and Catalyst Business, 2008
  • R&D Director for the Feedstocks, Chemicals, Energy and Hydrocarbons, 2010
  • Global Operations Technology Director, 2014
  • Global Digitalization Director, Dow, 2020
  • AIChE President Elect, 2022

 

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Karen J.L. Burg

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1990
  • M.S. in Bioengineering from Clemson University, 1990
  • Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Clemson University, 1996
  • Interim Vice Provost for Research and Innovation at Clemson University, 2007
  • Interim Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School at Clemson University, 2011
  • VP for Research and Professor, Kansas State University, 2014
  • Harbor Lights Chair and Professor of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Georgia, 2017
  • Vice President for Research, University of Georgia, 2017

 

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Russ O’Dell

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1975
  • Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1978
  • R&D Engineer, Fiber Industries, Charlotte, NC, 1978
  • Global Manager of Technology, Celanese, 1990
  • Chemical Engineering Department Alumni Advisory Board, 1993
  • Director of Development, NC State Engineering Foundation, 2002
  • Director of Alumni Relations, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State, 2014

 

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Charles Wells

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1987
  • M.D. from the University of North Carolina, 1992
  • Internal Medicine Residency, Emory University,1992-1998
  • Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at CDC, 1995-1997
  • Associate Vice President / Head of Development, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Sanofi, 2015
  • Executive Vice President / Head of Development – Infectious Diseases, Evotec, 2018
  • Head of Therapeutics Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, 2019

 

Class of 2021

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Gregory P. Hatem

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1985
  • Financial Advisor, American Express, Raleigh, 1987
  • Founder, Shenyang Hi-Technology Development Corp. JV, 1992
  • Founder & Managing Partner, Empire Properties, 1995: 70 buildings with more than 1 million ft2 of office and retail space
  • Diploma in Chinese Studies, Beijing Youth Politics College, 1996
  • Senior Trade Specialist, Asia, NC Dept. of Commerce, 1997
  • Founder, Empire Eats, 2002: The Pit, Sitti, Gravy, Raleigh Times Bar, Morning Times, The Pizza Times, Mecca and Square Burger
  • Founder, The Empire Gives Back, 2019: Charitable Foundation

 

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Michael W. Lowder

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1978
  • Process Design Engineer, Tennessee Eastman, 1978
  • MBA, East Tennessee State University, 1986
  • Capital Project Manager, Eastman Chemical, 1986
  • Capital Projects Department Manager, Eastman, 1995
  • Director, Corporate Strategy/Acquisition Integration, Eastman, 1997
  • Director, Eastman Program Office, Eastman, 2002
  • Director, Process Engineering, Eastman, 2007

 

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Stephenie L. Roberston

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1995
  • Engineer Officer, US Army, 1995
  • MS in Chemical Engineering, U. South Florida, 2001
  • Head of Production, Ajinomoto AminoScience, 2005
  • Head of Upstream Operations, Novartis, 2010
  • Associate Director, QA Secondary Mfg, Novartis, 2012
  • Director, Quality, Seqirus, 2016
  • Vice President, Operations – Engineering, Supply Chain & EHS, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, 2020

 

photo-thomson

William B. Thompson, Jr.

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1978
  • Process Engineer, Burroughs Wellcome, 1978
  • MBA, University of Virginia, 1982
  • Investment Executive, Carolina Securities Corporation, 1982
  • President, Peacock-Thompson Investment Management, 1987
  • Senior Portfolio Manager, Franklin Street Partners, 1995
  • President, Franklin Street Partners, 2009
  • Managing Director, Fifth Third Bank/Franklin Street Advisors, 2019

 

Class of 2020

photo-caudle

Daryl L. Caudle

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1985
  • MS in Physics and MS in Engineering Management; Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership
  • Division Officer on USS George Washington Carver; Executive Officer of USS Montpelier, US Navy
  • Commanding Officer of USS Jefferson City; Commander, Submarine Squadron Three; Deputy Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet; Commander, Submarine Group Eight; Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, US Navy
  • Vice Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff in Washington, DC; Vice Admiral and Commander, U.S. Naval Submarine Forces and Task Force 114, US Navy

 

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Ana P. Davis

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1991
  • Process Control Engineer, ExxonMobil, Baytown, TX
  • Facilities Engineer, Advanced Micro Devices, Austin TX
  • Production Leader, Union Carbide, Institute, WV
  • Production Leader, Dow Chemical, Freeport, TX
  • Manufacturing Manager, KAO Specialties, High Point, NC
  • Head, Health, Safety & Environment, North America, Syngenta, Greensboro, NC
  • Endowed John E. and Ana Piqueras Davis CBE Scholarship

 

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Marcus L. Martin Sr

  • BS in Pulp & Paper Technology, NC State, 1970; BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1971
  • Production Chemical Engineer, Westvaco, Covington, VA
  • MD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 1976
  • Lieutenant, USPHS, Gallup Indian Medical Center, NM
  • Emergency Medicine Residency, U. Cincinnati, 1981
  • Residency Director and Interim Chair, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine; Vice President & Chief Officer for Diversity & Equity, University of Virginia

 

photo-williams

Milton G. Williams Jr

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1961
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1965
  • R&D Engineer, Fiber Industries, Charlotte, NC
  • Process Development Group Leader; Manufacturing Area Superintendent; Quality Assurance Superintendent; Fiber Industries, Greenville, SC
  • Assistant Plant Manager; Director of Research and Development; Vice President & Technical Director; Freudenberg, Durham, NC
  • Endowed Milt Williams CBE Scholarship

 

Class of 2019

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Quint M. Barefoot

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1985
  • MBA, Duke University, 1996
  • President, Four Seasons Environmental, Greensboro, NC
  • Founder, Monosep, Lafayette, LA
  • President Zappa-Tec, Greensboro, NC
  • Managing Partner, Zappa Stewart, Greensboro, NC
  • President, Info-Gel, Charlotte, NC, Limerick Ireland and Umbergaon, India
  • Partner, Waters Edge Environmental, Raleigh, NC

 

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John W. Earnhardt, Jr

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1963
  • R&D Engineer, DuPont Nomex Waynesboro, VA
  • Production Superintendent, DuPont Nylon Richmond, VA
  • Global Strategy Manager, DuPont Lycra/Spandex Wilmington, DE
  • Founder and President, Pro Services, Mooresville, NC
  • ISO 14001 Standard Development – Environmental Management Systems

 

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Ronald B. McNeill

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1973
  • Environmental Engineer, NC Department of Natural & Economic Resources, Raleigh, NC
  • Environmental Consultant, WAPORA, Atlanta, GA
  • MBA, Georgia State, 1984
  • Partner, Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD), Wilmington, NC
  • Vice President, Liberty Healthcare Group, Wilmington, NC
  • Founding Partner, AccuGenomics, Wilmington, NC

 

photo-orlandi

Stacey Guard Orlandi

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 1994
  • Process Engineer, Kvaerner John Brown, Greenville, SC
  • Refining Technology, BP, Naperville, IL
  • Corporate Strategy, BP, London, UK
  • Refinery Superintendent, BP, Carson, CA
  • Refinery Manager, BP, Cherry Point, WA
  • VP R&D Chemicals and New Energies, Shell, Houston, TX
  • CEO, Virent, Madison, WI
  • VP Production Excellence, Shell, The Hague, Netherlands

 

Class of 2018

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Harry “Hal” A. Lawton, III

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University, 1996
  • BS in Pulp & Paper Technology, NC State, 1996
  • Process Engineer at Champion International – Roanoke Rapids, NC
  • MBA, University of Virginia, 2000
  • Associate Pricipal at McKinsey & Company
  • Senior Vice President at Home Depot – Atlanta, GA
  • Senior Vice President at eBay – San Francisco, CA
  • President at Macy’s – New York, NY

 

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Tracy Proctor Mustin

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University, 1984
  • Captain, U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps – Washington DC; New Orleans, LA; Norfolk, VA; Groton, CT
  • Program Manager, Int’l Nuclear Security Cooperation – Washington, DC
  • Director, Second Line of Defense Program, US Department of Energy, National Security Administration – Washington, DC
  • Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, US Department of Energy – Washington, DC

 

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Richard B. Phillips

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University, 1964
  • MS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University, 1966
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, NC State University, 1970
  • Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Grenoble, 1971
  • Senior Vice President of Technology at International Paper – Tuxedo Park, NY
  • President, Pulp & Paper Foundation at NC State University
  • Adjunct Professor of Paper Science & Engineering, NC State University
  • Endowed Phillips Family Scholarship and Phillips Family Leadership Incentive Award

 

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Ronald C. Zumstein

  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, NC State University, 1987
  • Process Development Engineer at Ethyl Corporation – Baton Rouge, LA
  • Technical Director at Albemarle Corporation – Orangesburg, SC and Baton Rouge, LA
  • Site Manager at Albemarle Corporation – Pasadena, TX and Orangeburg, SC
  • VP of Health, Safety and Environment at Albemarle Corporation – Baton Rouge, LA
  • Senior VP of Engineering and Project Execution at Albemarle Corporation – Charlotte, NC

 

Class of 2017

Dominic T. Clausi

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University 1994
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of Texas – Austin 1998
  • Plastics Plant Manager at ExxonMobil Chemical – Baton Rouge, LA
  • Manager of New Product Platform Group at ExxonMobil Chemical – Baytown, TX
  • VP Global Chemicals Technology at ExxonMobil – Houston, TX
  • Serves on CBE Alumni Advisory Board

 

Steffanie B. Easter

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University 1985
  • MS in Engineering Management, Catholic University of America 1995
  • Deputy Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft
  • Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education
  • Executive Director for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office – Arlington, VA
  • Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology

 

Leland E. Garrett

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University 1971
  • MD – Medical University of South Carolina 1976
    • Residency – Internal Medicine USAF Medical Center
    • Fellowship – Nephrology Duke University Medical Center
  • Physician and Partner at Wake Nephrology Associates – Raleigh, NC
  • Medical Director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC – Durham, NC
  • Contractor Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer at Palmetto GBA – Columbia, SC

 

Kent O. Hudson

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University 1975
  • BS in Pulp & Paper Science and Technology, NC State University 1975
  • President & CEO at Applied Computer Technologies – Coats, NC
  • President & CEO at INDUS International – Atlanta, GA
  • CEO & Co-Founder at SchoolDude – Cary, NC
  • Executive Chairman at Dude Solutions – Cary, NC

 

Class of 2016

Candis S. Claiborn

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, University of Idaho 1980
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, NC State University 1991
  • Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering — Washington State University 1991-2016
  • Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs — Washington State University 2002-2005
  • Dean of Engineering and Architecture — Washington State University 2006-2016

 

Vice Admiral Joseph W. Dyer, Jr., USN, Ret.

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University 1969
  • MS in Finance, Naval Post Graduate School
  • Program Manger of F/A-18 Super Hornet Strike Fighter
    • Commander of the Naval Air Systems Command
    • Commander of Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division
  • Chief Operating Officer & Chief Strategy Officer at iRobot — Bedford, MA
  • Chief Strategy Officer for National Spectrum Consortium

 

Stutts

Carl S. Stutts, Jr.

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University 1968
  • MBA, University of Houston 1975
  • Vice President of Tenneco Ventures
  • General Partner in Columbine Venture Funds
  • President & CEO of Texas Petrochemicals
  • President & Chairman of Cyanco Corporation
  • Provides three CBE Scholarships
  • Major Donor to Engineering Oval
  • Serves on NC State Engineering Foundation Board

 

Photo-of-Weinberg

Alan S. Weinberg

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University 1963
  • Process Engineer at Esso Research & Engineering — Florham Park, NJ
  • Director of R&D at Cryovac / Sealed Air — Duncan, SC
  • Global VP of Technology at Cryovac / Sealed Air — Duncan, SC
  • Served on CBE Alumni Advisory Board
  • Endowed CBE Professorship with Planned Gift

 

 

Distinguished Young Alumni Award Recipients

Class of 2023

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Lindsey E. Robinson

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 2008
  • VVTE Engineer, VVM Project Engineer and PSM Analyst Leadership Development Rotational Program, Merck, 2008
  • Specialist, Chemical Engineering, Merck, 2010
  • Senior Specialist, Chemical Engineering, Merck, 2015
  • Associate Director, Engineering, Merck, 2017
  • Director, Engineering, Merck, 2020

Class of 2022

fincher

Brandon T. Fincher

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 2007
  • Harvard Business School, MBA, 2014
  • Production Engineer/Project Manager, Value Chain Manager, Novartis, Associate Director of Finance, 2007-2017
  • Director, Business & Marketing Operations, Avista Pharma Solutions, 2017
  • Sr. Director, Finance & Corporate Strategy, Cambrex, 2019
  • VP, Corporate Strategy & Planning, Cambrex, 2021
  • Chief Strategy Officer, Cambrex, 2021

Class of 2021

nance

Elizabeth A. Nance

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 2006
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, Johns Hopkins, 2012
  • Hartwell Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins, 2013
  • Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, U. Washington, 2015
  • Jagjeet and Janice Bindra Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, U. Washington, 2020
  • Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, Department of Chemical Engineering, U. Washington, 2020
  • Jagjeet and Janice Bindra Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, U. Washington, 2021

Class of 2020

Shaul

Christopher R. Shaul

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 2005
  • MBA, University at Buffalo, 2010
  • Process Engineer, DuPont, Buffalo, NY
  • Process Supervisor, DuPont, Buffalo, NY
  • Manufacturing Technology Supervisor, DuPont, Circleville, OH
  • Operations Area Manager, DuPont, Circleville, OH
  • Operations Manager, DuPont, Dayton, OH
  • Plant Manager, DuPont, Dayton, OH

Class of 2019

Millman

Jeffrey R. Millman

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State, 2005
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, MIT, 2011 Cambridge, MA
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO

Class of 2018

Brookes

Srini Siripurapu

  • Operations Manager at Reliance Industries Limited – Jamnagar, India
  • MS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University, 2000
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, NC State University, 2003
  • Technology Team Leader at GE Plastics – Mount Vernon, IN
  • Global Product Technology Manager at SABIC – Mount Vernon, IN
  • VP of Global Technology at General Cable – Indianapolis, IN
  • Senior VP of R & D at Prysmian Group – Milan, Italy

Class of 2017

Brookes

Chisa K. Brookes

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University 2002
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, Michigan State University 2007
  • Risk Management and Loss Prevention at ExxonMobil – Singapore
  • Engineering Function Project Support at ExxonMobil – Houston, TX
  • General Contractor at Brookes Construction – Charlotte, NC
  • Endowed Scholarship in the NC State College of Engineering

Class of 2016

photo of Eric Paradise

Eric M. Paradise

  • BS in Chemical Engineering; BS in Biochemistry, NC State University 2001
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley 2006
  • Consultant for The Boston Consulting Group
  • Senior Director of Partnering & Strategy at MedImmune — Gaithersburg, MD