The AIChE Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, is pleased to announce the appointment of new leadership and trustees to its Board of Trustees, reinforcing its commitment to advancing educational opportunities, professional development, and innovation across the chemical engineering community.
As of January 1, 2026, the Foundation welcomed a new Chair of the Board of Trustees, Michael J. Graff; Vice Chair, Mario Eden; and Trustee, Mark Barteau. Each brings deep leadership experience and a shared dedication to expanding the Foundation’s mission to inspire a safe, connected, and inclusive engineering community Doing a World of Good.
“I look forward to serving with each of the new Trustees in the coming year,” said Jennifer Sinclair Curtis, Immediate Past Chair of the AIChE Foundation. “Mike’s collaborative style and deep commitment to our donors and the Institute will usher in the next philanthropic chapter at AIChE.”
Michael J. Graff, Chairman, CEO and President (Retired) of American Air Liquide North America, steps into the role of Chair after serving as Vice Chair for the past two years. Graff’s leadership has been instrumental in strengthening the student experience and enhancing access to opportunities that fuel innovation and benefit the profession and planet.
Mario Eden, Dean of the College of Engineering at Auburn University, has been appointed Vice Chair. In his new role, Eden will continue to support fundraising efforts for the Summer School for ChE Faculty Endowment, working toward its $1 million goal ahead of its 2031 centennial.
Mark Barteau, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Texas A&M University, joins the Board of Trustees, bringing expertise from his ongoing work with the Environmental Division, including support for the Lawrence K. Cecil Award endowment.
“We are dedicated to cultivating a Foundation board and leadership that mirrors our global membership, ensuring we are able to support the Institute’s mission and engineer impact,” said Natalie R. Krauser, Executive Director of the AIChE Foundation.
New Trustees will serve three-year terms, renewable up to three consecutive terms. The team’s first opportunity to connect with members and supporters will be at AIChE’s Spring Meeting & Global Congress on Process Safety in Houston, TX, where attendees can meet the Board at the AIChE booth.
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About AIChE: AIChE is a professional society of more than 60,000 members in more than 110 countries. Its members work in corporations, universities and government using their knowledge of chemical processes to develop safe and useful products for the benefit of society. Through its varied programs, AIChE continues to be a focal point for information exchange on the frontier of chemical engineering research in such areas as nanotechnology, sustainability, hydrogen fuels, biological and environmental engineering, and chemical plant safety and security. More information about AIChE is available at www.aiche.org.