The Alumni Fellow award is the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association. Since 1973, the Alumni Fellow award has been given to select alumni who, as leaders in their professional fields, are nominated by an academic college and accept an invitation from the President of the University to return to campus to share their expertise with students, faculty, and administrators. The award is a cast bronze medallion and framed certificate.  Theresa will receive her award on October 21, 2009

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Theresa Kotanchek is Dow’s Global Technology Director for Asia Pacific and India-Middle East-Africa  In this role, she leads all Asia Pacific and IMEA R&D, including the development and staffing of Dow’s new state-of-the-art R&D center in Shanghai, China and Dow’s future build-out in India. In addition to establishing world-class R&D capabilities in our emerging geographies, she is responsible for achieving the company’s Asia Pacific growth strategy through market-driven scientific and technological innovations, enhancing current products as well as creating new business and technology platforms. She is located in Shanghai.
Kotanchek joined Dow in 1990 with extensive experience in engineering and materials science. She served as Research Leader in Corporate Research from 1990 to 1995, and Product Manager in Advanced Electronic Materials from 1996 to 1998.  From 1998 to 2000, Kotanchek was the Materials Science Technology Leader in Corporate R&D, where she led a diverse group of materials scientists, chemists, engineers and biologists to invent and develop new materials solutions for Dow.
In 2000, Kotanchek was appointed Senior R&D Director for INSITE™ Technology and New Business Development for Dow Plastics.  There she led the Global Polyolefins & Elastomers R&D organization responsible for new technology, including the Functional Chemistry, Advanced Process Research and Materials Science laboratories, and new application development, including Dow Fiber Solutions, Hygiene & Medical and New Business Growth.  In 2003, she was named Senior Director of Technology for Dow’s Growth Center.
In 2004, Kotanchek was promoted to Global R&D Director for Ventures. In addition to providing global technical leadership for Dowpharma and Advanced Electronic Materials businesses, she was accountable for the identification, evaluation and implementation of strategic technologies, capabilities and business options enabling rapid commercialization of new business platforms. During this time, she also served as a member of the Biotechnology Portfolio Team and the Biotechnology R&D Leadership Team. Kotanchek was named to her current role in November, 2005.