Ohio State Professor Umit Ozkan to deliver summer commencement address

Umit Ozkan, a Distinguished University Professor, College of Engineering Distinguished Professor and chair of the William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The Ohio State University, will deliver the university’s summer commencement address.

Approximately 1,600 degrees will be awarded at the Aug. 3 ceremony at the Schottenstein Center. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

“Dr. Ozkan is a longtime Buckeye, an internationally recognized scholar and a highly regarded leader in the field of engineering. I’m confident she will share valuable insights to graduates in every field of study as they take their next steps in building lives of leadership and service,” said President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. “We look forward to hearing Dr. Ozkan’s words of wisdom as we celebrate the Class of 2025.”

Ozkan has been part of the faculty of Ohio State’s Chemical Engineering department since 1985. Between 2000 and 2005, she also served as the associate dean for research in the College of Engineering. She held visiting scientist and visiting professor positions at the French Institut de Recherches sur la Catalyse (Catalysis Research Institute), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Université Claude Bernard, respectively. 

She has edited eight books and written over 300 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Ozkan has eight patents and over 15,000 citations. 

Ozkan has held leadership positions in several professional organizations, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Chemical Society and the North American Catalysis Society.

Ozkan’s honors include being elected to the National Academy of Engineering, the American Chemical Society’s George Olah Award, North American Catalysis Society’s Burwell Lectureship Award, and American Institute of Chemical Engineers Margaret Rousseau Lifetime Achievement Award.