Donald Morelli, who has led the Michigan State University Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (ChEMS) for six years, will be stepping away from the chair position in August. University Distinguished Professor Christina Chan will serve as interim chairperson of the department, effective Aug. 16, 2021.
Engineering Dean Leo Kempel made the announcement on May 11.
"Don has led the department with keen professionalism and skill as chair or interim chair since 2015," Kempel said. "I have asked Kris Chan to serve as interim chairperson starting in mid-August."
Morelli, who is a professor of materials science, will be continuing as a faculty member. His research focus is on developing new materials for energy conversion applications.
During his time as chair, the CHEMS department hired nearly a dozen new faculty members working across a broad range of activities in both chemical engineering and materials science and engineering. He further increased ties to departments in Engineering and other Colleges across campus, as well as the IQ and Fraunhofer Center, through joint and courtesy faculty appointments.
Chan comes into the position with broad research experience. Her research has ranged from coal pyrolysis in graduate school to industrial research in automotive paints to systems biology and cellular and tissue engineering.
Kempel said Chan is committed to teaching and research.
Since joining the ChEMS department in 2002, she has mentored a diverse group of 76 undergraduate and high school students in her laboratory. The graduate students and post-doctoral fellows she have advised are successful. Many have gone on to faculty positions at universities in the U.S. and across the globe. She maintains active collaborations within the department, college, university, and the broader research community.
"Her commitment to the ChEMS department and her various leadership experiences will continue Don's good work - the expansion of research and instructional programs and the marked success of attracting national-caliber faculty members and very talented students."
"Join me in thanking Don for his many accomplishments while leading ChEMS, and please congratulate both of them," Kempel added.