$1 million gift from KU alumni establishes chemical engineering research lab

“We are grateful to the Hoovers for this extremely generous investment in KU Engineering,” said Arvin Agah, dean of the School of Engineering. “This gift directly contributes to the education of our students, and elevates the stature of KU Engineering.”

Alan Allgeier, associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at KU, expressed his gratitude for the Hoovers’ support, which greatly enhances the department’s programs.

“This gift allows us to plan long-term programs in our laboratories and to purchase specialized equipment that give our students marketable, industry-relevant skills,” Allgeier said.

Mark Shiflett, Foundation Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at KU, said being able to build laboratories such as the one supported by the Hoovers resonates with businesses that visit KU.

“Multibillion-dollar companies see these facilities, and they are really impressed. Companies such as DuPont and Chemours could go anywhere in the world to do research, and they come right here, to Kansas, working with us, and that offers tremendous opportunities to students,” Shiflett said. “And when projects we’ve worked on together are completed, these companies hire our students.”

Richard Hoover, who is originally from St. Louis, is a third-generation Jayhawk who received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from KU in 1971; his mother, father and grandfather also attended KU. Elizabeth Hoover, a New York City native who goes by Beth, received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from KU the same year. Their parents were best friends and “arranged” for them to get together when they were still in high school.

“We were pushed in each other’s direction, and it was perfect,” Richard said.

Richard spent his career in various positions at Dow Corning that took him around the world; he retired in 2002 after six years as CEO of Dow Corning Asia, based in Tokyo. Beth worked for the Kansas Geological Survey while she was a student at KU. After graduation, she worked for the pharmaceutical company Hoffman-LaRoche in New York as an analytical chemist until they started their family. They have a son and a daughter.