RICHARDSON, Texas (Feb. 1, 2005) – Dr. Richard A. Caldwell, a long-time member of the chemistry faculty and former dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), will be presented a “lifetime achievement” award at a meeting this month of the local chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society.
Caldwell is one of three individuals slated to be so honored at the organization’s third biennial “Salutes to Excellence Tributes,” to be held Thursday, Feb. 24, on the UTD campus. The others are Jerry Mullins, a retired chemistry teacher from Plano Senior High School, and Dr. Paul Ricca, founder of Ricca Chemical Company of Arlington.
Dr. Richard Caldwell
The program will honor long-time members of the Dallas-Fort Worth ACS section who have made outstanding contributions in one or more of the areas of academic or industrial research, chemistry teaching, chemical professionalism and chemical entrepreneurship, according to event organizers.
A native of West Virginia, Caldwell received an Sc. B. degree in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley. Following a postdoctoral year at the California Institute of Technology, he joined the faculty at Cornell University. He was hired by UTD in 1971 as one of the first chemists on the faculty of the then-two-year-old institution and served as the first Chemistry Department head.
At UTD, Caldwell developed an internationally renowned program in organic photochemistry. In 1987, the DFW ACS Section presented him its W. T. Doherty Award to recognize his contributions to chemistry.
During his tenure at UTD, Caldwell twice served as dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, holding the position for a total of 10 years. Under his direction, the school experienced significant growth in the numbers of science and math majors and degree programs offered and added a Nobel laureate to its faculty. In 2003, Caldwell resigned the deanship to return to research and teaching, a role he continues in today.
The ACS has 161,000 members. It provides its members, at all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry, opportunities for peer interaction and career development. The society, based in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1876.
About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor®, enrolls more than 14,000 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s web site at www.utdallas.edu.