Chemistry Forges Unbreakable Bonds Faculty Mentors Catalyze Students’ Success
W ith help from a generous donation, the Department of Chemis-
in his 43-year tenure. He was highly regarded as a dedicated and
try named a lecture hall and established an endowed lecture series to
brilliant teacher. His passion for teaching and love of science are
recognize alumni Bryant A. Miner and his faculty mentor Henry Eyring.
evident in his impact on his numerous students.
The auditorium in the Thatcher Chemistry Building, Room 4630,
The inaugural Henry Eyring and Bryant A. Miner Lectureships in
will be named The Henry Eyring and Bryant A. Miner Lecture Theater
Chemistry were held on March 27 and 28 in the newly named lecture
in permanent recognition of the profound mentor-based partnership
theater. The presentations, held in tandem, featured two outstand-
shared between two chemists important in the department’s history.
ing chemists – Robert H. Grubbs of Caltech and Melanie S. Sanford of
“This lecture theater is a fitting
the University of Michigan,
tribute to Eyring and Miner,” says
whose strong mentor-based
Cynthia Burrows, Chemistry De-
professional and academic
partment chair. “Students, faculty
relationship resembles that
and distinguished guests use this
of
space to share new knowledge
Bryant Miner.
and discoveries, to stimulate new
Eyring
and
“To my knowledge, there
discussions and collaborations.”
is no other program on
Henry Eyring established the
campus with the same em-
University’s Graduate School and
phasis on this academic
developed the Chemistry Depart-
relationship,” says Burrows.
ment into a national research and education powerhouse.
20
Henry
Grubbs was the thesis Nobel laureate Robert H. Grubbs presents the first Eyring/Miner Lectureship on March 27, 2017 in the Chemistry Department.
Eyring served as Bryant Miner’s
advisor for Sanford while she completed her doctorate
graduate thesis advisor while Miner earned his doctorate degree in
degree at the California Institute of Technology in 2001.
chemistry in 1965. Eyring and Miner enjoyed a fulfilling academic and
professional relationship that spanned some 20 years.
closely with him on research in organometallic chemistry and
Miner went on to a long and successful career at Weber State
synthetic chemistry, particularly the development of novel catalysts
University in Ogden where he taught chemistry to countless students
for olefin metathesis. In fact, the title of Sanford’s own doctoral
Sanford had joined Grubbs’ research group in 1998 and worked
