Monty Alger named AIChE 2019 president-elect, 2020 president
5/13/2019
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) recently announced that Monty Alger, professor of chemical engineering, was elected as 2019 AIChE President-elect and 2020 AIChE President.
“We are delighted to see Monty assume this important leadership position in our profession,” said Phillip Savage, chair of the Penn State Chemical Engineering Department. “He has some great ideas for better connecting industry and academia and strengthening the profession."
Alger believes that the AIChE is well positioned to advance design of new innovation and learning practices.
“Technology has enabled radically new business models supported by shared global platforms. The workforce is more dynamic as long-tenure positions at companies are less common, and intellectual capital management has become vital to maintaining a competitive market advantage,” Alger said. “Students seeking their first jobs benefit from prior workplace experience and knowledge of professional skills, including business communication, finance and project management. New models of blended learning provide access to just-in-time learning and the opportunity to connect basic research innovation with market opportunity.”
Alger also points to current AIChE efforts such as the Center for Chemical Process Safety, the AIChE Academy and RAPID. “AIChE has the unique ability to bring together public, private and government sectors to accelerate the design and implementation of future integrated practices,” he said.
Alger has more than 30 years of experience in the chemical and energy industries. Prior to joining Penn State, he was the senior vice president of research and development at Myriant Corp. and before that he was the vice president and chief technology officer with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. He also spent 23 years with General Electric (GE), where he led technology development at the Global Research Center of GE Plastics, and was the general manager of technology for the Advanced Materials business. Prior to GE, he was director of the MIT Chemical Engineering Practice School Station at GE Plastics.
Alger is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He has served on advisory boards for several universities and companies. He earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, all in chemical engineering. He served on AIChE’s Board of Directors from 2010 to 2012, and on the AIChE Finance Committee.
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Monty Alger. IMAGE: PENN STATE
