Edward S. Macias, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor and dean of Arts & Sciences, has been named the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced.
The professorship is a gift of Barbara and David Thomas, who also endowed a professorship in the humanities five years ago. A formal installation is planned for Dec. 1.
“Barbara and David Thomas are tremendous supporters of Arts & Sciences, and this professorship joins a list of many generous gifts they have bestowed upon Washington University,” Wrighton said. “Their support is a tribute to the valuable teaching and scholarship that our faculty and students pursue.
“Thanks to their extraordinary generosity, we can recognize Ed’s many contributions as a scholar in his field and a champion of great teaching.”
Wrighton also praised Macias for his visionary leadership at the University.
“In his leadership roles, Ed has been a major force in strengthening and broadening the arts and sciences at Washington University,” Wrighton said. “As provost, he chaired the committee to prepare for the 21st century. As executive vice chancellor and dean of Arts & Sciences, he helped make those future initiatives possible.”
For the past 34 years, Macias has served in many different roles at the University. He joined the Arts & Sciences faculty in 1970 as an assistant professor of chemistry and became a full professor in 1984. In the 1980s, Macias added administrative roles to his full-time teaching and research, serving as the director of the Summer School program and chair of the Department of Chemistry. In 1988, he was appointed provost, and in 1995 he was named to his present positions.
His research interests include environmental and nuclear chemistry, focusing on the chemistry and physics of atmospheric particles and the effect of these particles on haze and air pollution. Widely consulted for his expertise, Macias has been called upon to assist national and governmental institutions, including the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.
Macias earned a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in 1966 and a doctorate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1970.
The Thomases are dedicated supporters of Arts & Sciences. Barbara Thomas is a WUSTL alumna, having graduated in 1976 with a degree in drama. After several acting jobs and graduate work in both drama and business, she entered the corporate world and is now senior vice president and chief financial officer of HBO Sports.
In recognition of her support of boxing, both individually and through HBO, she was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame last year. She has been with HBO since 1983, serving in a number of financial and administrative positions.
She has been a member of the University’s Board of Trustees since 1994 and has served on the Arts & Sciences National Council for 13 years. In addition, she has provided leadership support for the Campaign for Washington University by co-chairing major gifts for Arts & Sciences, co-chairing the New York Regional Campaign and serving as a national vice chair of the regional campaigns.
After a successful few years as an investment banker, David Thomas co-founded The Leitner Thomas Group, a buyout firm based in New York City. He serves as a principal in the firm, which specializes in small-to-medium private buyouts.
Barbara met him when they were graduate students at Northwestern University; each earned a master of business administration degree in 1979.
In addition, David Thomas earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in East Asian studies from the University of Illinois and Yale University, respectively.
He serves as president of the Trevor Day School Board of Trustees and is on the board of Meet the Composer, an organization that increases opportunities for composers by fostering the creation, performance, dissemination and appreciation of their music.
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