Steven Kass chosen for L.I. Smith Professorship

Steven Kass is the recipient of the L.I. Smith Professorship, chosen for his record of scholarship, research, teaching, and service. This five-year endowed professorship is effective on January 1, 2016.

Kass was born in New York City in 1956. He studied chemistry at Vassar College and Yale University, and received his doctorate in 1984, working with Kenneth Wiberg. He carried out post-doctoral studies with Barney Ellison and Charles DePuy at the University of Colorado from 1984-1986. He then joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota.

Kass’ research interests currently focus on hydrogen bond catalysis, BrØnsted acids and bases, and anion molecular recognition. For many years, he carried out a variety of mass spectroscopic studies.