Gary Foutch Becomes AIChE Fellow

The School is very pleased to relay this 2008 news: The American Institute of Chemical Engineers selected Dr. Gary L. Foutch, Regents Professor of Chemical Engineering, as an AIChE Fellow.   To attain the grade of Fellow, one has to have been practicing chemical engineering for at least 25 years and have demonstrated significant contribution to the profession.  No more than 5% of the professional members of AIChE can have the grade of Fellow.

Dr. Foutch began his faculty career at OSU in 1980.  He now holds the Kerr-McGee Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering and the title of Regents Professor.   The Regents title honors a few percent of the OSU professors who have achieved a significant international reputation.   Gary has been a Fulbright Scholar and has served on the Screening committee.   He is also a licensed Professional Engineer.

His series of articles in Ultrapure Water is a classic example of the transfer of technology to practicing engineers, and indicates his ability to relate technical detail to a range of technical literacy.  He developed software that analyzes industrial ion exchange units, which is used to forecast useful bed life, which has played an important role in managing maintenance in nuclear power plants. 

            For twelve years running he has been an accreditation visitor for undergraduate chemical engineering programs, a role that requires him to demand and uphold high standards of education excellence for AIChE; and simultaneously, be an effective agent of change at both the faculty and administrative levels of the universities.  He now serves as an AIChE representative the National Education and Accreditation Committee, and has served an various local AIChE Section positions.   

Gary has also served in several high roles within the University.    He was elected as Chair of the OSU General Faculty Council, at a confluence of Administrative Review, Academic Program Review and Presidential search.   He was instrumental in bringing faculty perspectives to upper administrators and the Regents; and valued by them as subsequent appointments reveal.   He served as Chairman of the State Regents’ Faculty Advisory Committee reporting to the Chancellor and the State Regents.  Gary served on the OSU President’s Search Committee, which successfully led to the selection and hiring of our former OSU President.