Outgoing President Tom Tritton Announces Plans

Thomas R. Tritton, Ph.D, who served as 12th president of Haverford College from 1997-2007, will become president of the Chemical Heritage Foundation ("CHF") effective January 1, 2008.  He will be only the second president of CHF, succeeding Dr. Arnold Thackray, who founded the organization in Philadelphia 25 years ago.

“I am enormously excited to be returning to my roots as a scientist,” says Dr. Tritton.“My life has been devoted to education and the CHF position offers a new way to continue that calling in directions that are both original and challenging.”

Tritton was selected following a worldwide search for someone with both scholarly and entrepreneurial talents, who combines a passion for the long sweep of chemistry and molecular sciences with the drive to build and sustain a successful enterprise.

“Scientist, scholar, inspiring leader, Tom Tritton is the right person at the right time for CHF,” said Vincent Calarco, chairman, CHF Board of Directors. “His passion for chemistry, his energy, his leadership will help CHF achieve its ambitious goals as a global organization devoted to science history and education.”

CHF serves the community of the chemical and molecular sciences and the wider public by treasuring the past, educating the present, and inspiring the future.  In fulfillment of this mission, CHF maintains a world-class collection of materials and works of art that document the history and heritage of the chemical and molecular sciences, technologies and industries; encourages research in CHF collections on topics of strategic interest to CHF; and carries out a program of outreach and interpretation in order to advance an understanding of the role of the chemical and molecular sciences, technologies and industries in shaping society.

Today, CHF enjoys the endorsement and support of more than thirty affiliated organizations; its 60 staff members work out of offices in the historic Society Hill section of Philadelphia, just two blocks from Independence Hall.

Dr. Tritton's excitement about assuming the presidency of CHF is evidenced in his words,“CHF's world class scientific collections and holdings provide an outstanding resource for scholars and a natural linkage to both the humanities and to the social sciences. Additionally, the work on science education, outreach, and public policy offers distinctive contributions to contemporary questions and societal needs.”

Before assuming the CHF presidency, Tritton will spend the fall semester at Harvard University, where he will hold the title of“President in Residence” at the Graduate School of Education. He will work with graduate students in higher education, write and teach about leadership and the college presidency, and also design a new course on "Social Justice."

Under his leadership, Haverford saw its endowment increase by more than $250 million as it developed innovative forums for learning such as its Center for Peace and Global Citizenship and the John B. Hurford '60 Humanities Center.  He also oversaw construction of the state-of-the-art Marian E. Koshland Integrated Natural Sciences Center as well as a world-class athletic facility, The Douglas B. Gardner '83 Integrated Athletic Center.

“My ten years at Haverford were wonderful in every way. I depart confident that the College is well positioned to continue its traditions of high academic excellence and connecting one's knowledge to doing good in the world”, said Dr. Tritton.

Located 10 miles outside of Philadelphia, Haverford College is the oldest institution of higher learning in North America with Quaker roots and one of the country's leading liberal arts colleges.  Currently, 1200 students attend Haverford, hailing from all regions of the United States and from 53 countries.  Thirty percent are students of color.  Haverford employs 112 full-time faculty members, and has a student/faculty ratio of 10 to 1.  The College boasts nationally renowned programs in the liberal arts curriculum.  Many alumni hold positions of leadership in the corporate, nonprofit, professional and public sectors.