Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Chair
In 2010 Maurine Johnson, wife of the late Dr. Francis “Frank” Johnson, UT Dallas’ first acting president, became a member of the Legacy Society with a planned gift intended to create the Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Distinguished University Chair in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Upon her death in 2016 at the age of 97, Johnson’s gift of $5.5 million became the largest planned gift in UTD’s history. In addition to establishing the original distinguished chair, the bequest allowed the University to create seven additional Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Chairs to support the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Dr. Shengwang Du
- Professor of Physics
“Breaking the boundary between fundamental physics and applied engineering, we work as both scientists and engineers; this is the way we are working as modern researchers. We are aiming at discovering and solving new scientific and engineering problems by making use of and developing advanced technologies.”
Dr. Bruce M. Novak
- Professor of Chemistry
“Our faculty are utilizing the latest research techniques and facilities, and inventing some of their own, and many are working at the interface of multiple disciplines. All this expertise and innovative thinking makes for a very dynamic and diverse research and teaching environment, so our students graduate well prepared to meet the world’s scientific and societal challenges.”