Bradley chemistry professor Kurt Field has been selected as the 2015 Illinois Heartland American Chemical Society’s Chemist of the Year. The American Chemical Society is the world’s largest scientific society and a leading source for authoritative scientific information.
“I am humbled to have received the award,” Field, chairperson of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said. “I know that without the help from my colleagues and the resources provided by Bradley, I would not have been a candidate for the award.”
Christopher Jones, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said the award is a confirmation of the excellent education Bradley provides in the areas of chemistry and biochemistry.
“It brings honor and distinction to the college and chemistry department because he’s being recognized by peers outside of the institution [of Bradley],” Jones said. “There’s no greater honor than being recognized for one’s own work by one’s own peers. It means so much.”
Field will be retiring in May, making this the last award received during his career.
“I will miss the whole academic enterprise,” Field said. “However, when you have taught organic chemistry to a student, and then years later to her son, and then years later to his daughter, it is time to retire.”
Department lecturer Judy Moroz said Field left an impression on her as well.
“He’s always been very patient and willing to spend a lot of extra time here, between raising a family, having academic duties and research,” Moroz said. “It would sometimes require coming in on Saturday mornings for research, and he was always willing to do that. He’s always been a fantastic teacher.”
Moroz said the department will definitely miss him.
“They don’t make [professors] like him anymore,” Moroz said. “He’s very, very willing to do whatever a student needs. Whatever it takes.”
