“University of Kentucky to Host Inaugural Susan A. Odom Lecture Featuring Texas A&M Professor Jodie Lutkenhaus”

University of Kentucky Department of Chemistry Hosts Inaugural Susan A. Odom Lecture

The University of Kentucky Department of Chemistry is set to host the inaugural Susan A. Odom Lecture this week, featuring esteemed Professor Jodie Lutkenhaus of Texas A&M University. The lecture series was established to honor the life and legacy of Professor Susan Odom, a beloved faculty member of the UK Department of Chemistry from 2011 to 2021.

Remembering Professor Susan Odom

Professor Odom was a respected figure in the fields of synthetic and materials chemistry. She joined the UK faculty in 2011 and was promoted to associate professor in 2017. During her tenure, she won the “Teacher Who Made a Difference” award four times and published over three dozen articles. Notably, she received five patents and filed 11 patent applications, demonstrating her significant contributions to the field of chemistry.

“Susan was adept at pursuing new ideas, determining their value and putting the most useful aspects of the idea into practice,” said Department of Chemistry colleague David Atwood. “She really embodied all the best, most ideal attributes of a university professor.”

Professor Susan A. Odom Chemistry Endowment Fund

The lecture also marks the launch of the Professor Susan A. Odom Chemistry Endowment Fund. This fund will support a faculty position in Odom’s name, the annual lecture, and a named award for an undergraduate chemistry major conducting research. The endowment fund is a testament to Odom’s legacy of excellence at the university and will support UK Department of Chemistry students and faculty for generations to come.

About Jodie Lutkenhaus and the Susan A. Odom Lecture

Jodie Lutkenhaus is a distinguished professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University. Her research areas include polyelectrolytes, redox-active polymers, energy storage, and composites. She has received numerous recognitions, including the World Economic Forum Young Scientist, Kavli Fellow, NSF CAREER, AFOSR Young Investigator, and 3M Non-tenured Faculty Award.

Exploring Future Battery Chemistry

Lutkenhaus’ talk, titled “Redox-active Macromolecular Radicals for Metal-Free, Degradable Batteries,” will delve into a promising future battery chemistry. This new chemistry involves materials that can be easily sourced with minimal environmental impact, and potentially offers similar or better storage characteristics compared to lithium-ion batteries. She will also highlight collaborative work on this topic that was done with Odom, further cementing the patent legacy of the late professor.

The inaugural Susan A. Odom Lecture is set to take place at 4 p.m., Friday, April 8, in the William T. Young Library auditorium. It promises to be an enlightening event, not only for those interested in the field of chemistry but also for those who wish to honor the memory and patent contributions of Professor Susan Odom.