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Chemistry Professor Retires After 34 Years of Service to the University

John Lowe, professor of chemistry, has retired from the Eberly College of Science after 34 years as a researcher, educator, adviser, and administrator.

His research areas included quantum chemical studies of molecular conformation, chemisorption, catalysis, and cancer-causing compounds. Seven doctoral and two master's degree students completed their theses under his direction.  His research, which included periods of study at Cornell University, Oxford Univerity, and the University of Paris, France, led to more than 50 journal publications and a similar number of invited talks.  He also served one year as an associate program director at the National Science Foundation.

He has taught more than 20 different courses since coming to Penn State, and has been the adviser for more than 100 students who majored in chemistry.  His commitment as a teacher and adviser is reflected by numerous awards, including the Undergraduate Student Government Teaching Award in 1984, the AMOCO Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award in 1985, and the C.I. Noll Teaching Award in 1991.  In 1993, he was appointed as Penn State's Alumni Teaching Fellow, which includes the opportunity to assist in efforts to improve teaching practices across the University.  In 1998, he was one of the first Schreyer Honors College Faculty Fellows and in 2000 he was named the first recipient of the Schreyer Honors College Excellence in Advising Award as well as the recipient of the Eberly College of Science Alumni Society Distinguished Service Award.

In addition, Lowe published a popular textbook on quantum chemistry, has given more than 15 external talks on educational topics, served as an outside examiner for graduating students at Oberlin College in 1991 and Swarthmore College in 1988, and was an evaluator of chemistry departments for the American Chemical Society and for the World Bank's China Project.

For eight of the past 10 years, Lowe has served as assistant department head for undergraduate education and he has been recognized with a Faculty Associates Award in 1997 for his success in fostering faculty morale and innovations.  For the past two years, he has been coordinator of first-year seminars in the Eberly College of Science.

Since joining Penn State in 1966, Lowe has moved from assistant professor to associate professor  in 1970 and to professor in 1986. He earned his doctoral degree in quantum chemistry from Northwestern University in 1964, his master's in teaching from Johns Hopkins University in 1959, and his bachelor's in chemistry at the University of Rochester in 1958.
 
 

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Last update:  20 June 2000