Tom Kuech

Tom Kuech retired in 2020 after almost 30 years on the faculty of the Chemical Engineering Department within the College of Engineering. Prior to that, Tom worked at the IBM Research Center. At UW, he twice served as chair of the department and had enjoyed teaching and research throughout the years. His research focused on semiconductor materials and devices. He enjoyed teaching principally undergraduates. A firm believer in faculty governance and while an active faculty member, he served on many university and college committees. He was a member of the Divisional Executive Committee, Graduate Research Committee, Committee on Honorary Degrees, Chemical and Biological Safety Committee, numerous search and screen committees, college promotion committee, was the inaugural director of the UW Materials Science Research and Engineering Center, among others. Upon retiring from the university, he become a program director in the Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation at the National Science Foundation until 2022. His retirement activities include continued learning about the world and science, wood working, genealogy, travel, rediscovering old interests, and enjoying his family.