Department of Chemistry selects new chairman
Holden Thorp, director of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center since 2001, has been tapped as the new chairman of the Department of Chemistry.
He also will serve as a Kenan professor, an endowed faculty position. Both appointments are effective July 1.
Thorp earned his bachelor of science degree at UNC and graduated with highest honors in chemistry in 1986. He then attended the California Institute of Technology and graduated with his doctorate in 1989. He started working at UNC in 1993 as assistant professor of chemistry and now serves as a professor of chemistry.
Thorp is filling the position of James Jorgenson, who will complete his five-year term as chairman of the department June 30. Jorgenson, W.R. Kenan Jr. professor, will continue to teach and conduct research in chemistry at UNC.
Jeff Hill, the Morehead Center’s marketing and business ventures director, will serve as acting director until a permanent one is hired.
