Dan Morris, PhD, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has been appointed as the Herman A. Moench Distinguished Professor at Rose-Hulman. The Moench Professor embodies and advocates for the core values of the institution: academic rigor, student-centered education, and commitment to the ideals of Rose-Hulman’s mission and vision.

Morris was recently appointed to the position in recognition of his excellence in teaching and being a positive role model to both students and faculty. He follows previous Moench Distinguished Professorship honorees, Robert Steinhauser, Keith Hoover, Richard Ditteon and Thom Adams.

“I admire the level of dedication and professionalism exhibited by the previous Moench Distinguished Professors,” said Morris. “They are an excellent example of service to the students and the Institute, and I am honored to have been chosen as the next individual to point to the continuing legacy of Herman Moench.”

Faculty chairs honor members of the Rose-Hulman faculty for their exemplary accomplishments in teaching and academic scholarship. The holder of the professorship is expected to be exemplary in all areas of faculty responsibility, according to Richard House, PhD, associate dean for professional development and professor of English.

Morris’ area of specialization is analytical chemistry, the discipline most associated with detecting and measuring chemical species and reaction dynamics. This branch of chemistry works most closely with electronics, and Morris has co- developed an Electronics for Scientists course based on his extensive knowledge of analytical instrumentation. 

In his mentorship of more than 50 Rose-Hulman undergraduate theses, Morris has worked in the Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Lab on microfluidics devices and studied the effects of oxidative damage on DNA. These efforts have provided students with opportunities for professional growth as they move on to industrial positions, graduate and medical school. Morris has published four peer-reviewed articles with these undergraduate researchers in the past 10 years. His scholarly achievements have been recognized as a former recipient of the Board of Trustees Outstanding Scholar Award.

Elias O.U. Eteshola, a 2014 chemical engineering and chemistry graduate, not only considers Morris an excellent teacher and mentor, but a great influence on him during a critical period of his learning.

“Dr. Morris helped me develop the analytical skills and confidence I needed before moving to the next stage,” said Eteshola. “Because of his guidance, I was able to understand what goes into the peer-reviewed publication process and was fortunate to be awarded an outstanding graduate thesis award. Now as I am wrapping up my MD-PhD training and getting ready to apply for residency, I continue to practice the principles and habits Dr. Morris instilled in me.”

Morris has been recognized and served the institution in several ways. He received the 2024 Faculty Honorary Alumni Award. He is a longstanding member of the Commission of the Assessment of Student Outcomes (CASO), an Institute Institutional Review Board (IRB) officer, Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC) representative, and Moodle mentor.

“Dan Morris is the individual I point out to newer faculty as the ideal Rose-Hulman faculty member,” said Ross Weatherman, PhD, head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “In all three areas —service, scholarship and teaching — he is exemplary and utterly dependable. The whole Institute owes Dan Morris quite a lot for his dedication over the years.”

Moench was a distinguished alumnus, electrical engineering professor and administrator who twice served as Rose-Hulman’s interim president. He was a member of the campus community until his death, at 81 years old, in 1990.