• 2008 Newsletter This fall’s newsletter is full of news. By the time you read this, the renovation of Kolthoff Hall will be complete. The department hired two new professors, Connie Lu and Laura Gagliardi. As usual, the awards flowed in, including the ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry to Pete Carr, an NIH New Innovator Award to Christy Haynes, and an Astronaut Scholarship Foundation scholarship to chemistry major Andrew Jones.

• 2007 Newsletter There is much to report in this year’s newsletter, most of it good, but some sobering. On a sad note, we continue to mourn the death of our colleague Marian Stankovich last June. Although Marian can never be replaced, the department welcomed three new assistant professors: Chris Douglas, Andy Harned, and Valerie Pierre. The awards flowed in, to faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates, including a Rhodes Scholarship to U of M chemistry and biochemistry major Katie Lee.

• 2006 Newsletter It’s been quite a year, Wayne Gladfelter stepped down as Department Chair after six years of dedicated service to enjoy life as a "regular" professor again. We were delighted to welcome Christy Haynes and Aaron Massari have joined the faculty. Five chemistry professors–David Blank, Mike Bowser, Phil Buhlmann, Kris McNeill, and Gianluigi Veglia have been promoted to associate professor.

• 2005 Newsletter The big event during 2004 was the centennial celebration held on October 9, 2004. Although students were taking chemistry courses and graduating as majors before 1904, it was in this year that the School of Chemistry was established and George B. Frankforter was appointed as its first Dean. Over the past two years we have focused a great deal on the Kolthoff Hall renovation. The state bonding bill, which includes two-thirds of the funds for the 26.1 million dollar project, was signed into law by Governor Pawlenty on April 11, 2005. This was also a great year for our faculty, who received many awards summarized elsewhere in this letter.

A guaranteed return on your investment

The promise of a guaranteed return may seem like a myth or a scam these days, but there is one investment that is sure to pay off now and for years to come – supporting the education of talented and deserving chemistry students. Benjamin Franklin once said, "an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." At the Institute of Technology we believe that sentiment wholeheartedly.

Charitable gifts from alumni, faculty, and friends are vital to the Department of Chemistry. Your gift of any size will have an immediate and beneficial impact on our students, faculty, and the college. Please consider making a tax deductible gift today to

• ensure the continued excellence of the Department of Chemistry;
• support your own passions and priorities within the department;
• transform the lives and work of our students and faculty;
• give back for all you received from the college; and
• advocate for the University in a time of significant legislative budget cuts.

Go to http://www.giving.umn.edu/givetoday/ and give online today.