Ohio State University is all set to host its summer commencement ceremony, and leading the charge with the keynote address is Umit Ozkan, a name that resonates throughout the engineering community for her scholarly prowess and leadership stature within the field. Dr. Ozkan, a venerated figure at the collegiate and international levels, is taking the stage on August 3 at the Schottenstein Center, as reported by OSU News. The celebration kicks off at 2 p.m., marking a pivotal milestone for approximately 1,600 graduates whose academic toils shall be rewarded with their well-deserved degrees.
In their announcement, OSU President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. extolled the virtues of Dr. Ozkan's long-standing affiliation with the institution and her international acclaim "Dr. Ozkan is a longtime Buckeye, an internationally recognized scholar and a highly regarded leader in the field of engineering," according to the Ohio State University, he affirmed, adding, "I’m confident she will share valuable insights to graduates in every field of study as they take their next steps in building lives of leadership and service," President Carter Jr. shared his enthusiasm for Dr. Ozkan’s forthcoming commencement address and the imparting of her wisdom to the Class of 2025, a gesture signifying more than just the culmination of an academic expedition, it's a torch-passing ceremony illuminating paths for future pioneers.
Her academic saga began with Ohio State's Chemical Engineering Department in 1985. Her influence burgeoned through various roles, including that of associate dean for research between 2000 and 2005, her repertoire of knowledge and experience adorned by stints as a visiting scientist and professor in respected French institutions such as the Institut de Recherches sur la Catalyse and Université Claude Bernard. She's a scholarly force with over 300 peer-reviewed publications to her name, alongside a collection of eight books as editor, eight patents, and an impressive 15,000 citations lauding her research contributions.
Throughout a storied career, Dr. Ozkan has not only contributed to academia with her research but has also been an active participant in leadership roles across several professional organizations, including stints with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Chemical Society, and the North American Catalysis Society, her influence was not just confined to Ohio State's campus but it spanned across the engineering discipline at large, testament to her commitment she's been recognized with prestigious accolades such as election to the National Academy of Engineering and awards including the American Chemical Society’s George Olah Award, the North American Catalysis Society’s Burwell Lectureship Award, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Margaret Rousseau Lifetime Achievement Award.
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