Ed began his academic career at Tennessee Tech University as an Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering in 1977.  He moved to the University of Arkansas in 1981 as an Associate Professor and, with Jim Gaddy, developed a strong research program in bioprocess engineering and the conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals.  Ed was promoted to the rank of Professor in 1985.  In 1992, he began part-time work at Bioengineering Resources, leaving the company in 1999 as Vice President for Research and Development, and returning full-time to the U of A.  In 2005, Ed began to change his professional interests from research to engineering education, serving as Associate Department Head from 2008-2021 including a 2 ½ year stint as Interim Department Head.  He was promoted to University Professor in 2019.

Ed has been recognized many times for his research and teaching accomplishments, including the U of A Alumni Association’s Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award for Research, induction in the U of A Teaching Academy, and his recent nomination to the 2023 ASEE Hall of Fame.  He and his wife Janet often visit their daughter Karen (BSChE, 2001), son-in-law Josh and grandson Jake in Springfield, Missouri.

Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers, 2024.