Dr. Sheldon E. Isakoff, former director of Engineering Research and Development at DuPont, was a major force in research at DuPont for more than 40 years. After receiving his PhD from Columbia Engineering, his began his work at DuPont, which culminated in many patented developments, including the EFT Dacron and nylon processes, Mylar and Cronar process improvements, and the first Lycra plant in the world. During his career at DuPont, Isakoff pioneered many developments in process dynamics and computer applications as both research director of the engineering materials laboratory and director of the engineering physics laboratory. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and served as president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a former member of the Dean’s Engineering Council, now the Board of Visitors, and an adviser to the Chemical Engineering Department. He was awarded the Alumni Association’s Egleston Medal for Distinguished Engineering Achievement in 1993. During his retirement, Isakoff was president of United Engineering Trustees and chairman of the board of the Chemical Heritage Foundation.
Isakoff has been an ardent support of Columbia since his student days. In 1996, he established the Sheldon E. Isakoff Scholarship in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
“Giving back to Columbia was crucial for me. I’ve been associated with Columbia since 1942 and I wanted to give back to the institution that gave me so much,” says Isakoff. Brian Albert ’10, who has held the Isakoff Scholarship for three years, is shown above with Isakoff and his wife, Anita. “You might say now, because of our scholarship, Brian is a member of our extended family.”