For the fourth year in a row, the Department of Chemical Engineering hosted its Chemical Engineering Annual Event on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Approximately 90 alumni, faculty and students attended the CBE Annual Event sponsored by CDI Engineering Solutions and the Department of Chemical Engineering.
The day began with a cocktail reception, where guests reconnected with former classmates, made new connections, and met with faculty from the department. Four Ph.D. students showcased their research posters, allowing alumni to glimpse the cutting-edge research taking place in the department.
Following the social event, Dr. Giuseppe Palmese provided an overview and update of the department, citing all of this year’s efforts to generate more alumni initiatives, including the mentoring program, the annual event, and the spring panel discussion. Dr. Palmese presented Mr. Michael Treat BS ’79, MS ‘08 with the Alumni of the Year award, highlighting his outstanding engagement efforts and commitment to the department.
The undergraduate students led a walking tour of campus to show changes that have taken place at Drexel over the last several years. The campus tour included the new Senior Design Studio and Undergraduate Laboratory.
A sit-down buffet reception followed. Alumnus Stanley W. Silverman, BS '69, MBA '74, Vice Chair of Drexel’s Board of Trustees, delivered the keynote lecture “From Chemical Engineering Undergraduate to CEO, to syndicated Columnist on Effective Leadership.” The former CEO of PQ Corporation, Mr. Silverman also writes for the Philadelphia Business Journal and 42 affiliated business publications across the United States. His weekly column discusses leadership, entrepreneurship, and corporate governance.
Similar to previous years, we welcomed both recurring and new attendees. Our alumni enjoyed the presentation and gave positive feedback. For instance, Rishon Benjamin, BS ’15 stated, "This event was a great opportunity to see first-hand the various transformations happening around Drexel. Having graduated only a year earlier than this event, I was amazed to see all the positive growth at Drexel and specifically the CBE department."
The next alumni and student event on Saturday, April 29, 2017, will be a panel discussion, “Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology in Chemical Engineering.” For more information, contact Jenn Bing, 215-895-1855, jlb453@drexel.edu.
Click here for a photo gallery of the event.