On August 21, MSE chair Liz Holm was inducted as the Richard F. and Eleanor E. Towner Professor of Engineering in a special installment ceremony in the Johnson Rooms. The ceremony was officiated by new Michigan Engineering Dean Karen A. Thole and moderated by Professor John Allison.

“Endowed professorships are among the highest honors bestowed on faculty members by the College of Engineering, which they had to earn,” said Thole in her opening remarks. “They help acknowledge faculty members’ research, teaching and service.”

Thole then explained why Holm's ceremony - her first official event as Michigan Engineering dean - was special to her personally: "[Holm] is, in fact, one of the reasons I am here at Michigan. Elizabeth led the Dean’s search committee. As a candidate for the position, she sent me a warm message that Michigan Engineering is a wonderful place where I'll have the opportunity to succeed. So, it is especially meaningful that I am able to recognize her for her accomplishments through this professorship."

Special invited speakers included Holm's younger brother John Holm, long-time collaborator and Carnegie Mellon Professor Tony Rollett, and David Srolovitz, Holm's former PhD advisor at U-M, now Dean of Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Chair of Materials Theory at the University of Hong Kong.

John Holm, a U-M alum and retired principal engineer at Intel, shed light on Liz's early years, explaining how she first explored pursuing careers as an equestian, musician and historian before settling on materials science in college. “I'm not sure how she picked materials science, but it is a broad field and thus a fitting place for someone who's curious and as talented as Liz is," he said. "Liz is a truly renaissance person."

In sharing their collaborative relationship that spans three decades, Tony Rollett explained how Holm's remarkable ability to explain scientific concepts and results in an "exceptionally lucid manner" makes her an incredible teacher and puts her in an "exalted class" of materials researchers, particularly in the computational realm. "She made a name in computational materials science through a large body of work on microstructural evolution and particularly the role of grain boundaries, most notably a pair of papers on the energy and mobility of grain boundaries in metals that have proven to be landmark papers in the field."

In reminiscing about his "exceptional" graduate student, former U-M Professor David Srolovitz, relayed what he feels is the key to Holm's success: her natural ability to be a leader. "Liz has always had this ability to walk into a field and recognize what's important, do something significant, and be recognized as one of the leaders of the field right from the beginning," Srolovitz said.

Following the speakers, Holm presented a talk, “We all might be giants: lending our shoulders to the next generation,” in which, through a series of personal anecdotes, she encouraged attendees to remember to lift others up in what may seem like small and everyday acts. Of her remarkable career Holm said: "I'll just say there is great beauty in what nature brings us and there is great fulfillment in being a computational materials scientist who's able to tease out and in some special cases even display the beauty in a way that is compelling."

In keeping with tradition, at the conclusion of the ceremony, Dean Thole presented Holm with a personally engraved medal (which she is to wear at all official university events, such as graduation), and unveiled Holm's professorship chair before inviting her to take an official first seat.

Said Allison in his introduction of Holm: "I have known Liz for many decades - and had the pleasure and privilege of serving with her on professional society boards and committees and national academy committees.  As are many others, I have always been in awe of what a deep and creative thinker she is, of her profound ability to communicate, and her impact as a leader within our profession - and now, and how fortunate we are, at University of Michigan."

About the honor
This endowed professorship was made possible through the generosity of Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner, in recognition of “research excellence of a distinguished faculty member.” 

Richard Towner graduated from the University of Michigan in 1941 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He served his country in World War II as commanding officer of the 283rd Ballistic & Technical Service, U.S. Army Ordnance, in Europe. After his military service, Dick enjoyed a successful 30-year career as a mechanical engineer with Procter & Gamble.   

Eleanor graduated from the Springfield, Massachusetts Hospital of Nursing, which was a training site for the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. Eleanor was a registered nurse and worked as a private duty nurse. 

Both Dick and Eleanor were long-time supporters of the University and were especially committed to advancing education at Michigan Engineering.  

Watch the ceremony.

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