Don Orr has distinguished himself with his leadership in a highly competitive chemical process industry and with his commitment to Purdue University. He retired in 1997 as senior corporate vice president from Air Products & Chemicals Inc. in Allentown, Pa., and now lives in Telluride, Colo., as well as Allentown.

Along with Rutgers University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the University of Puerto Rico, Purdue was named to receive a $15 million grant from the NSF to fund an Engineering Research Center (ERC) "to research and improve the way pharmaceuticals, foods and agricultural products are developed and manufactured."

The School of Chemical Engineering has formed an Academic Advisory Board, to seek input on academic issues that we face. It is expected to meet once annually, typically during the Spring semester. The membership term is three years. The inaugural Board meeting occurred during April 25-26, 2006.

Dr. Surya Mallapragada (Ph.D., 1996) was elected a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) for her "distinguished contributions to medical and biological engineering as well for demonstrated interest, concern, and involvement with critical issues affecting these fields."