Western New York Section
American Chemical Society
Double Bond
Western New York Section
American Chemical Society
Double Bond
Volume 77
May 2005
2005 Jacob F. Schoellkopf Medalist
Professor Jim D. Atwood
Jim D. Atwood Biography
Jim D. Atwood was born and raised in Willard, Missouri, son of Harvey and Louise Atwood. He graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry in three years, Magna Cum Laude, from Southwest Missouri State University in 1971. In 1996 Atwood received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Southwest Missouri State University.
Atwood studied metal carbonyl substitution reactions with Professor Theodore L. Brown, receiving his Ph.D. in 1975 from the University of Illinois. His thesis work was recognized with the Theron Standish Piper Award for Graduate Research in Inorganic Chemistry in 1975, awarded to the top student in inorganic chemistry.
Postgraduate study in the Joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. Program on Homogeneous Catalysis sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Soviet Academy of Sciences, involved nine months with Professor Earl Muetterties at Cornell University and six months with Professor A. E. Shilov at the Institute of Chemical Physics in Moscow.
Atwood began at the University at Buffalo in January, 1977, just prior to the infamous blizzard. Promotion to Associate Professor (1981) and Professor (1988) were accompanied by recognition as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow (1983-1985) and a Humboldt Research Fellow (1984).
Thirty-two students have received Ph.D. degrees and eight have received M.A. degrees under Atwood's guidance. Atwood's research group has published 130 manuscripts in the general areas of organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis. Atwood's research was funded through the years by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.
Atwood also authored two editions of a textbook, Mechanisms of Inorganic and Organometallic Reactions (1985 and 1996), edited Volume 8 (567 pages) of Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry II (1994) and edited Volumes 14 and 17 of Inorganic Reactions and Methods (1996-1998). Atwood continues as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Coordination Chemistry, an international journal that has grown significantly under his leadership (1993- ). He serves on the Editorial Board of ORGANOMETALLICS and Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms and is a past Associate Editor of Inorganic Chemistry (1982).
Professor Atwood has excelled in teaching at every level: large general chemistry classes, classes for chemistry majors, and graduate classes. His excellence in teaching has been recognized by the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2003) and the University at Buffalo, College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award (2002).
Atwood accepted the position of Chair of the Department of Chemistry in 1998 and has orchestrated dramatic increases in all of the many facets of the Department. From 1997-2005 the Department of Chemistry has increased faculty (26(33) as Atwood negotiated the hiring of nine new faculty, retentions of five faculty, and promotion of ten faculty. Under his direction the department has more than doubled research expenditures($4.2(9.3M), increased the graduate student numbers by 33% (107(143) and more than doubled the number of undergraduate majors(128(274).
Atwood has served in a variety of positions for the American Chemical Society: Councilor, Division of Inorganic Chemistry (1993-1995); Executive Committee, Division of Inorganic Chemistry (1993-1995); Local Section Activities Committee (1994-1995); Subcommittee on Local Section Reports (1994-1995); Subcommittee on Petitions and By-Laws (1994-1995); and Divisional Activities Committee (1995).
Jim Atwood married the former Mary Lyn Nicholson in 1971 and they have three daughters, Angela, Amanda and Alanna, and two grandchildren, Sam and Rebecca Perri. Atwood has had a lifelong interest in sports and continues to play basketball and golf. He is active in North Presbyterian Church.
The Western New York Section of the American Chemical Society
Invites you to be present at
The Seventy-Fifth Presentation of the
Jacob F. Schoellkopf Medal
To
Professor Jim. D. Atwood
Tuesday evening the Seventeenth of May
Two Thousand Five
Cash Bar at 6 O'clock Dinner at 7 O'clock
Presentation to follow Dinner
Glen Oak Country Club
711 Smith Road
East Amherst, New York
Formal Dress Optional R.S.V.P.
Tickets may be picked up at the door
Dinner Selections:
Roast Prime Rib
Chicken Mille-Feuille
Charcoal Broiled Swordfish with Corn Salsa
Wine served with meal
For reservations call:
Ms. Kathy Kelly
Department of Chemistry And Biochemistry
Canisius College
2001 Main Street
Buffalo, New York 14208
(716) 888-2340
Plates at $36.00
Please respond by May 9th, Make checks payable to
Western New York Section - American Chemical Society
The members of the WNY ACS give our heartfelt thanks to the Schoellkopf Committee members Dave Nalewajek, Maria Pacheco, Peter Schaber, Joanna Christopher, and Mary O'Sullivan (filling in for absentee member).
Brief History of the Schoellkopf Medal
Who do YOU think the 2006 Schoellkopf winner should be? Nominate that person!
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Double Bond Staff: |
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Assistant Editor
Patty Shelley (716)888-2341 FAX (716)888-3112 shelleyp@canisius.edu |
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