Henry S. White

Henry S. White

On June 30, 2019, Henry S. White will conclude a five-year term as Dean of the College of Science and return to his role as a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry. Through a series of strategic steps, White has improved education and research facilities, increased private funding, hired exceptional faculty, and retained more students in the College of Science.

“I appreciate the opportunity I have had as dean to work with so many passionate remarkably talented students and faculty, I know the College will continue to increase its reputation throughout the world.“and dedicated people,” says White. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together over the last five years. As I look at our remarkably talented students and faculty, I know the College will continue to increase its reputation nationally and throughout the world. I am excited to be part of that future.”

White, a distinguished professor of chemistry, will resume full-time research and teaching and plans to stay involved with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Chemical Society to focus on national science policy issues. He will also continue research for the Department of Energy and the Office of Naval Research, and will work with colleagues at Northwestern University and the University of Maryland.

THE BEGINNING

As a young boy growing up near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Henry did not necessarily envision a life and career in academia. However, his intelligence and talent with people was noticed at an early age both academically and professionally.

In order to pay for college, Henry worked in a local grocery store. His supervisors observed the young employee was a quick study and, over the course of his undergraduate years, assigned him to different areas of responsibility in the store. By the time Henry graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1978, upper management was ready and they offered him a full-time store manager position with the promise of future opportunities in the company. However, Henry had already been accepted to several graduate programs in chemistry and his professors were encour- aging him to continue his education. The decision between immediate steady income or many more years of formal education loomed in front of him. Ultimately, the prospect of knowledge and scientific exploration was stronger than financial security and Henry set out to the University of Texas at Austin.

That type of decision is indicative of Henry’s mindset throughout his career. His perspective is centered around a love of learning and a passion for teaching. Following his PhD., the Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science at the University of Minnesota in 1984. In 1993, he joined the University of Utah as a professor of chemistry.

At the U, Henry’s work in electrochemistry continued to attract national attention and a succession of awards followed, including the Faraday Medal from the Royal Society of Chemistry, the American Chemical Society Analytical Division Award in Electrochemistry, the David Grahame Award, the Carl Wagner Award, the Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology, and the Allen J. Bard Award. He was also inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Chemical Society.

He served as chairman of the Department of Chemistry from 2007-2013, a period in which he helped guide the completion of the Thatcher Building for Biological and Biorial assignments at many other premier analytical and electrochemical journals.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS DEAN

In 2014, Henry accepted the position of Dean of the College of Science, a leadership role that oversees all four of the College’s academic units: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy.

The College of Science has achieved remarkable goals during Henry’s term, including the completion of the $55 million interdisciplinary Crocker Science Center, the acquisition of more than $190 million in research awards, increasing the College’s undergraduate female enrollment from 40% to 49%, hiring a total of 26 new faculty, launching the Academic Advising Hive, creating new Mathematics and Chemistry endowments and establishing the new School of Biological Sciences.

White’s first comments as dean published in the College of Science Notebook appeared in spring 2016. In his remarks he stated, “The mission of the College of Science is more urgent than ever. We aim to educate and train the next generation of scientists, and to create, develop, apply, and disseminate new science.”

Due to White’s superb leadership and guiding vision, the College has fulfilled its mission and stands ready for new challenges and opportunities to come.