EAST LANSING, Mich. — Robert LaDuca, a professor in Michigan State University’s Lyman Briggs College, is the recipient of the Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award from the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan.
LaDuca is one of four professors from Michigan public universities to earn the award, which honors the outstanding contributions made by the faculty from Michigan’s public universities to the education of undergraduate students.
LaDuca, who also has an appointment in the Department of Chemistry, was honored for his ability to create a “fun, enthusiastic and interactive environment for intense scientific development and inquiry in chemistry.”
An MSU faculty member since 2004, LaDuca has led an undergraduate-only research group investigating the synthesis, structural characterization and physical properties of new inorganic/organic hybrid materials.
LaDuca has published more than 140 scientific articles with undergraduate co-authors.
“I’m very honored to have been selected for this award,” LaDuca said. “I’m glad that my passion for chemistry has inspired students in the classroom and research lab.”
“Dr. LaDuca is a consistently excellent undergraduate teacher, whose enthusiasm students find infectious, even when chemistry is not an easy subject for them to master,” said Elizabeth Simmons, dean of the Lyman Briggs College. “He also involves a large and diverse cohort of undergraduates in his research lab, and takes pride in helping them become highly capable, published chemists.”
Before coming to MSU, LaDuca was on the faculty of King’s College of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He has a bachelor’s degree from Yale University, and master’s and doctorate degrees from Cornell University.
Lyman Briggs College is a residential undergraduate college devoted to studying the natural sciences in their historical, philosophical, literary and social context. More information is available at www.lymanbriggs.msu.edu.
The Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan, is a nonprofit higher education association that serves Michigan’s 15 state universities. Its website is www.pcsum.org.
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