February 22, 2019

President of The Welch Foundation Announces Retirement

Houston, TX – February 22, 2019 The Welch Foundation Board of Directors announced today Norbert Dittrich will formally retire at year-end from The Welch Foundation where he has served as President since 1993.

“Under Norbert’s leadership, The Welch Foundation has impacted countless researchers, faculty and students across Texas as they work to solve real-world problems and improve lives,” said Carin Marcy Barth, Chair of The Welch Foundation Board of Directors. “We appreciate his years of service and steadfast commitment to The Welch Foundation.”

Dittrich joined The Welch Foundation in 1977 and during his tenure, the Foundation has contributed more than $800 million to the advancement of chemistry. Among his accomplishments, Dittrich has been recognized by AAAS for his service in philanthropy by advancing chemistry to improve human life and serves on the investment committee for the Chemical Heritage Foundation. He has been a member of the Foundation Financial Officers Group since 1996 and is on the advisory council for The University of Texas at Austin, College of Natural Sciences Foundation.

“Norbert has dedicated his career to advancing science for the benefit of society through his stewardship of The Welch Foundation, which has impacted generations of researchers in chemistry, biochemistry and chemical engineering in Texas,” said Peter B. Dervan, Bren Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and Chair of The Welch Foundation Scientific Advisory Board. “The Scientific Advisory Board is indebted to his inspired leadership, guidance and steady hand over the past four decades.”

The Welch Foundation, based in Houston, is one of the nation’s largest private funding sources for basic chemical research. Since 1954, the organization has contributed nearly $900 million to the advancement of chemistry through research grants, departmental grants, endowed chairs and support for other chemistry-related programs in Texas. In addition to the Welch Award, The Welch Foundation presents the Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research, recognizing the accomplishments of chemical scientists in Texas who are early in their careers. Each year, the foundation hosts the Welch Conference on Chemical Research in Houston, drawing leading scientists from around the world to explore state-of-the-art research in various areas of chemistry.