TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Tonya Klein, Dr. Duane Johnson and Dr. Christopher Brazel were recently awarded Reichhold-Shumaker Assistant Professorships of Chemical Engineering in The University of Alabama College of Engineering.

The awards, which will be in effect through Dec. 31, 2003, will provide each recipient stipends to promote their research.

A $100,000 gift to fund the positions was established in 1983 by Henry Reichhold, now deceased, to promote research projects of the chemical engineering faculty. The gift was made in honor of his long-time friend and associate, Thomas P. Shumaker of Tuscaloosa, upon Shumaker’s retirement from Reichhold Chemical Corp. Shumaker graduated from UA with honors in 1942. He holds baccalaureate degrees in chemistry, metallurgy and ceramics.

Shumaker devoted 36 years to helping Reichhold establish Reichhold Chemicals, which became one of the most successful chemical businesses of the 20th century. Today, Reichhold Inc., headquartered in Durham, N.C., is a leading manufacturer of polyester resins, adhesives, latex emulsions and coating resins, with locations around the world.

"This gift gives us the opportunity in chemical engineering to recognize our outstanding faculty engaged in research, as well as Thomas Shumaker, one of our distinguished alumni," said Dr. Gary April, University Research Professor and head of chemical engineering at UA.

The three new Reichhold-Shumaker Assistant Professors were honored at a luncheon where their awards were announced. Among the attendees were UA President Andrew Sorensen; Dr. Timothy J. Greene, dean of the College of Engineering; and Shumaker.

Klein is originally from Starke, Fla.; Johnson is from Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Brazel is from San Antonio, Texas.