The board of directors of AIChE announces that Darlene S. Schuster, PhD, AIChE’s current chief of technical operations, membership and business development, is appointed the new chief executive officer and executive director of the Institute, effective April 25. She will succeed June C. Wispelwey, who is retiring on April 22.
In making the announcement, Christine Grant, AIChE’s 2022 president, says “The board and I are delighted that Darlene will serve as AIChE’s next CEO and executive director. She has a deep knowledge of AIChE, and her background as a chemicals industry leader from a corporate, academic and non-profit perspective, as well as her deep understanding of the dynamic of the chemical engineering professional, will be an asset to the continued growth of AIChE.”
“I am excited by this opportunity to lead AIChE, an organization that has meant so much to me over the course of my career — as we expand our many points of excellence across the chemical engineering profession, inclusive of all,” says Schuster. She adds, “In our ever-changing world, AIChE is pleased to be the global home of chemical engineers as we continue to provide career support and lifelong learning opportunities for the broad engineering community, and continue to serve the chemical engineering profession.”
Schuster received her B.S. from West Virginia University, her M.S. from the University of Pittsburgh and her PhD. from West Virginia University — all in chemical engineering. She started her career working in the oil fields at Gulf Oil. Later, as a Bucknell University Clare Booth Luce Chair and professor of chemical engineering, she was one of 50 inaugural female science and engineering faculty who worked to promote women’s entry into the study and teaching of engineering and science. Schuster also founded a consulting and distribution company specializing in medtech and biotech industry sectors.
For more information, visit: www.aiche.org
