In The News

University of Notre Dame alumnus Thomas F. Degnan, Jr. has been honored as a “Hero of Chemistry” by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Degnan, who is a manager of Breakthrough and New Leads Technology at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co., received his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Notre Dame in 1973 and went on to receive a doctorate degree in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware in 1977. He and six members of his team won the recognition for developing a novel, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly polyester production catalyst and process.

The ACS Heroes of Chemistry program recognizes chemical scientists whose work in various fields of chemistry and chemical engineering has led to the successful innovation and development of commercial products based on chemistry. The 2007 honorees were recognized on August 19 during the ACS fall national meeting in Boston.