I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and attended John Adams High School, graduating in 1960.  I received my B.S. in CHE from Ohio University in 1964 and my Ph.D. in CHE from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1968.  I joined the University of Notre Dame as Assistant Professor of CHE in the Fall of 1968.  During my four years in South Bend, I was fortunate to receive most excellent mentoring from J. T. Banchero, J. J. Carberry, J. P. Kohn, A. H. P. Skelland and Ernest Thiele.  In the Spring of 1972, the first energy crisis precipitated my move to the University of Tulsa.  I received a promotion to Associate Professor and an opportunity to participate in the development of very substantial industrially funded energy research programs.  I was promoted to Full Professor in 1975 and appointed Chair of the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Division in 1977.  After one year as Chair, I was appointed Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in 1978.  I served as Dean for nine years during which time I led the fund raising effort, which resulted in the construction of a new engineering building.  In 1988, I was appointed Trustees Professor of Chemical Engineering and returned to teaching and research as founding Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Technology.  In 1989, I left Tulsa to become the Dean of Engineering at the University of Akron and lead the fund raising activity to secure funding for a $20 million renovation of the Auburn Engineering Center.  In 1992, I chaired the Universities Task Force for the 21^st Century, which led to a major university administrative reorganization and was named Vice President for Research and University Development in 1994.  As Vice President, I guided Akron’s $125 million capital campaign, increased the university’s externally funded research support, improved the profitability of non-credit continuing education and negotiated various long-term royalty agreements for the university’s technology.  In 1996, I assumed the position of Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of South Alabama.  A disagreement over administrative responsibilities with former President Whiddon led to my return to teaching in the CHE department and to Dr. Whiddon’s subsequent retirement from the university.  This dramatic change has allowed me the opportunity to work closely with small classes of undergraduate and graduate students and to spend my summers traveling the world visiting friends and family.