Robyn E. Hannigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robyn E. Hannigan
|
|
|---|---|
Hannigan in 2019
|
|
| 19th President of Ursinus College | |
| Assumed office July 1, 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | Brock Blomberg |
| Alma mater | University of Rochester SUNY Buffalo The College of New Jersey |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Earth Science Environmental Science Geology Biology |
| Institutions | Ursinus College Clarkson University University of Massachusetts Boston National Science Foundation Arkansas State University |
| Thesis | Trace and major elements in sedimentary and igneous processes: REE geochemistry of black shales and MORB and major element chemical variations in plume-generated basalts (1997) |
| Doctoral advisor | Asish Basu |
Robyn Ellen Hannigan is an American scientist, inventor, and business leader. She is currently the 19th president of Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Before this, she was the provost (a senior leader) at Clarkson University.
Robyn Hannigan and her team have created four special inventions, called patents. These inventions include new technologies for science instruments and medical uses.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robyn Hannigan grew up in New Jersey. Her mother was a member of the Narragansett Nation, an Indigenous group. When she was younger, Robyn found science challenging and even got a low grade in biology.
Despite this, her parents encouraged her to go to college. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from The College of New Jersey. After working for a local health department, she decided she wanted to learn even more.
She then went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in geology from SUNY Buffalo. She also received a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the University of Rochester.
A Career in Science and Leadership
Robyn Hannigan has held many important jobs in science and education. She was the first Dean of the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She also worked at the National Science Foundation, helping to guide scientific research.
She has been a professor at universities like the University of Massachusetts Boston and Arkansas State University. Beyond her academic roles, she also helped start two science companies, GeoMed Analytical and Hyphenated Solutions, where she was the Chief Science Officer. This means she led the scientific work for these businesses.
Inventions and Patents
Robyn Hannigan is a co-inventor on four patents. A patent is like a special permission from the government that protects an invention. Her inventions include new ways to use lasers in science and methods to detect heavy metal exposure using saliva.
Recognized for Her Work
Robyn Hannigan has received several important awards for her contributions to science. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (since 2010) and a Fellow of the Geological Society of America (since 2008). These titles show that she is highly respected in the scientific community.
She also received an award from the American Chemical Society in 2007 for helping students who might not have many opportunities get into science careers.
