Editor’s column

If you want to know what makes Case Western Reserve a polymer powerhouse, chat with Kathryn Wilcox, newly arrived from Texas A&M. She probably knows more about Case's history-making role in macromolecular engineering than most people on campus. It's a big part of the reason she's here, pursuing her PhD in polymer physics.

She’ll tell you the Case Institute of Technology created the nation’s first stand-alone polymer department and that the Case School of Engineering remains an industry leader, certainly the talk of her co-op.

“In my field, everyone knows about Case,” she said. “It’s one of the top polymer schools in the country.”

Now she’s helping Professor Svetlana Morozova, PhD, launch a new polymer physics lab in the Kent Hale Smith Building. Her voice resonates with excitement as she describes creating materials that might allow new treatments for dreaded diseases.

Still, she needed a nudge to make Case her place. She had a big decision to make. The University of Chicago wanted her, too.

Enter Lee Swanger ’68, PhD, a materials engineer who has enjoyed much success as a consultant, educator and researcher. You might see him charging briskly across the Quad on his occasional visits, a white-haired man with the zeal of a first year. His passion for science is plainly evident as he talks about the potential of researchers unleashed.

That’s why he funded the Swanger Fellowships, signing bonuses for the nation’s top science and engineering students. He wants scholars like Wilcox to pursue their research dreams where his began.

“This is a way to get these top students to consider the unique experience they are going to have at Case,” he said.

Young talent. Alumni vision and generosity. It’s a combination helping to stoke the thrill of science and engineering on Case Quad.

Robert Smith Editor Robert.Smith@casealum.org

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To serve and advance the interests of the Case School of Engineering, the math and applied sciences of Case Western Reserve University and its alumni and students.

New classes aim to share the excitement of hands-on engineering and teamwork.

Cover Story

Scientists have long sought an artificial substitute for blood platelets. Biomedical Engineering Professor Anirban Sen Gupta may have found it.

To strengthen Case’s research prowess, an alumnus helps introduce signing bonuses for top grad students.

Alumni Adventures

Alumnus Bob Ferguson endured six weeks in a simulated spacecraft to help NASA plan new missions. Guess what he missed?

Long We’ll Remember

The day I crashed the university’s new Univac. Winter 2020 • vol. 35 • no. 1

1 Dean’s Message 2 Editor’s column 4 Letters, posts and emails 7 Around the Quad 10 Alumni Newsmakers 22 Case Memories 24 News Bytes 26 Class Notes 30 In Memoriam 31 Tribute — George Havens ’49

Cover photo of Anirban Sen Gupta, PhD, by Lillian Messner.

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