Academy of Chemical Engineers inducts eight new members

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On April 27, 2015

Eight professionals were inducted into the Academy of Chemical Engineers at Missouri University of Science and Technology during its annual induction ceremony on Thursday, April 16. The academy honors chemical engineers for contributions to their profession, leadership and involvement with Missouri S&T. It serves as an advisory group to the Missouri S&T chemical and biochemical engineering department.

The new members are listed below:

Carma Gibler of Houston, a process engineering specialist for Kelly Scientific Resources and a contractor for Kraton Polymers, earned a bachelor science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1979. Gibler has 27 years of experience in polymers, base chemicals and refining. Gibler has worked for Shell Chemical Co., where she was awarded 22 patents as a department manager, and for Kraton Polymers in various capacities.

Dr. Allan Harvey of Boulder, Colorado, a chemical engineer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1983. He also earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of California-Berkeley in 1988. Harvey worked as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate at NIST after earning his Ph.D. In 1990, he became a senior engineer at Simulation Sciences Inc. After four years in the position, Harvey returned to NIST to serve in his current position. He earned the NIST Measurement Services Award in 1996, the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal in 2011, and was named an ASME Fellow in 2013. Harvey is the editor for “Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data” and serves on the editorial board for the “International Journal of Thermodynamics.”

Dr. Kurt Koelling of Powell, Ohio, a professor of chemical engineering at The Ohio State University (OSU), earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1988. He also earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Princeton University in 1993. Koelling joined the faculty at OSU as an assistant professor in 1993. He was named associate professor in 1998 and professor in 2005. Koelling’s research focuses on interfacial polymer fluid dynamics, polymer nanocomposite materials, rheology of polymer melts and solutions, and advanced polymer molding technologies. He has earned numerous awards, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) Career Development Award, OSU Lumley Research Award and the OSU Interdisciplinary Research Award. Koelling is also director of the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Advanced Polymer and Composite Engineering. His research has led to over 100 refereed journal articles, 80 conference proceedings and several patents.

Lisa A. Krueger of Phoenix, president and CEO of Essential Power, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1986. She also earned an MBA from Rice University in Houston. Krueger has held executive-level positions for multiple energy companies. At Dynegy Inc., she performed a variety of duties including commodity trading, generation and transmission planning, electric transmission system operations, generation system operation and enterprise risk management. As a senior officer at First Solar Inc., she led domestic and international business development, government affairs, communications and sustainability. Krueger started her current position at Essential Power in March 2014.

Philip Ling of Houston, portfolio manager for Royal Dutch Shell’s Downstream Acquisitions and Divestments Group, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1992. He earned an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Houston in 1999. Ling started his career as a process engineer for Lyondell Petrochemicals. In 2001, he joined Shell. Over a 22-year career, Ling has held roles in process and production engineering, economics, crude oil supply, business development, commodities trading and now acquisitions and divestments. While at Shell, he has worked in London, New Orleans and Houston.

Michael McGath of Gardena, California, a retired manager of Newberry Plant and Hector Mine for Elementis, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1970. After earning his degree, McGath started at NL Industries Inc. as an engineering and production supervisor. In 1972, he became a project engineer for the construction of the company’s Benton Plant and in 1974 he was promoted to production manager of the plant. In 1978, McGath was promoted to manager of the Newberry Plant and Hector Mine in Newberry Springs, California. NL Industries was purchased by an outside company and became a part of Elementis 1998. McGath held his management position until he retired in 2014.

Eva Miranda of Saratoga, California, co-founder of Sanctuary Conservation, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1985. She also earned an MBA from Harvard University in 1990. Miranda has been a senior associate at Strategic Decisions Group, an associate at McKinsey and Co. Inc. and a product development engineer at Procter & Gamble. Before launching Sanctuary Conservation, a sustainable business that preserves nature and memorializes lives, Miranda was senior vice president and general manager at Sony Corp. of America and senior vice president of strategic planning at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Dr. Robin Shepard of St. Peters, Missouri, president and owner of Shepard Safety LLC and an adjunct professor of chemical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1984. She earned a master of science in material science and engineering in 1990 and a doctorate of science in chemical engineering in 1996, both from Washington University in St. Louis. Shepard began her career as a design engineer specialist with McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co. She held various positions while with the company. Between 2003 and 2009, she was co-owner and project manager at Shepard Civil Engineering. Since 1996, Shepard has served as a faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis, where she is also faculty advisor for the university’s Engineers Without Borders student chapter.

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