Note to the Editor: To receive a photo of Dr. Stephen Ritchie, contact Mary Wymer at 205/348-6444 or mwymer@coe.eng.ua.edu.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama College of Engineering recently appointed Dr. Stephen Ritchie as a Reichhold-Shumaker Assistant Professor for his excellence in chemical engineering research.

Ritchie, assistant professor of chemical engineering, joined the College in 2001. He received his bachelor’s from the University of Toledo and his doctorate from the University of Kentucky. Ritchie’s research deals primarily with selective separations through the use of membranes and thin films.

“This appointment recognizes Dr. Ritchie’s progress made during his first year at the University in establishing a record of proposal submissions, funded projects and scholarly activities important to him and the department,” said Dr. Gary April, University Research Professor and chemical engineering department head.

The Reichhold-Shumaker Assistant Professorship was established in 1983 by Henry Reichhold to promote research projects of the chemical engineering faculty. The gift was made in honor of his long-time friend and associate, Thomas P. Shumaker, upon Shumaker’s retirement from Reichhold Chemical Corp.

Endowed professorships enhance the quality of programs in higher education through both the recognition and contributions of the professors. Distinguished scholars, who hold these most prestigious positions, make significant contributions to the research and teaching missions of the University, and they increase the visibility of the University, which aids in attracting high-quality faculty, excellent students and external resources for research.

In 1837, UA became the first university in the state to offer engineering classes and was one of the first five in the nation to do so. Today, the College of Engineering, with about 1,900 students and more than 90 faculty, is one of the three oldest continuously operating engineering programs in the country and has been fully accredited since accreditation standards were implemented in the 1930s.