Texas Academy of Science VP
January 16, 2015
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler Chemistry Professor Elected to State Scientific Academy
January 16, 2015
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
January 16, 2015
Dr. Neil Gray has been elected vice president of the Texas Academy of Science, Dr. Martin Slann, College of Arts and Sciences dean at The University of Texas at Tyler, announced.
A UT Tyler alumnus, Gray serves as professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
The Texas Academy of Science promotes scientific research in Texas colleges and universities, encourages research as a part of student learning and enhances the professional development of its professional and student members.
“I am honored to have been elected and look forward to representing UT Tyler the best way possible,” Gray said. “This is one of the largest honors and responsibilities of my career. I have long been an advocate for the promotion of science, and I also look forward to working with colleagues in the Texas Academy of Science on this important mission.”
His election starts a four-year commitment to serve as vice president, followed by president-elect, president and immediate past president.
Serving UT Tyler since 1996, Gray was named to UT System’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers last year. He also is a 2009 recipient of the UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award.
Among other honors, Gray has received the Chancellor’s Council Outstanding Teaching Award, President’s Scholarly Achievement Award, Texas Alpha Chi Chapter Outstanding Faculty Award and UT Tyler Jack and Dorothy Fay White Fellowship in Teaching Excellence. He also previously served as UT Tyler Faculty Senate president.
Gray has co-authored multiple Welch Foundation Department grant proposals. These grants provide scholarships for UT Tyler undergraduate chemistry majors, allowing them the opportunity to study chemistry through participatory research. He also is a long-standing and active member of the American Chemical Society and involved with UT Tyler’s ACS student affiliate chapter.
Gray holds a bachelor of science in chemistry from UT Tyler as well as a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Texas A&M University. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.