Donald Morelli, interim chair of Michigan State University’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science for nearly two years, has been named chair following a national search. His appointment was effective June 1.
Leo Kempel, dean of the College of Engineering, said Morelli’s appointment continues his strong leadership over expanding research and instructional programs and a growing faculty.
“Dr. Morelli is a leading researcher in thermoelectric materials and has been a research leader in the college since joining MSU,” said Kempel. “I am confident that Don will lead the department into a new era marked by growth in its research and educational mission.”
Morelli said he’s honored to serve as the department’s chair.
“The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science has outstanding faculty who are dedicated to the dual missions of advancing knowledge and educating the next generation of scientists and engineers,” said Morelli. “We look forward to working with the other departments in the college to help engineering grow.”
Morelli is a professor of materials science and served as director of the MSU/DOE Energy Frontier Research Center on Revolutionary Materials for Solid State Energy Conversion from 2008 until 2016.
He joined MSU in 2007 after spending 21 years in the industry. First at General Motors Research Laboratories as a senior research scientist, then at Delphi Corporation Research Labs, where he was staff research scientist and group leader of the nanomaterials group.
Morelli replaces Martin Hawley, who stepped down as chair in August 2015 after 13 years of service.