View source for Biography:Norman Hackerman

{{Short description|American chemist, professor, and university President (1912 – 2007)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
 | name             = Norman Hackerman
 | image            = Norman Hackerman, 1985.jpg
 | image_size       = 
 | caption          = Hackerman in 1985
 | order = 18th
 | title      = President of the [[Organization:University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas at Austin]]
 | term_start = 1967
 | term_end   = 1970
 | predecessor  = Harry Ransom
 | successor  = Bryce Jordan
 | order2            = 4th
 | title2            = President of [[Organization:Rice University|Rice University]]
 | term_start2       = 1970
 | term_end2         = 1985
 | predecessor2      = [[Biography:Kenneth Pitzer|Kenneth Pitzer]]
 | successor2        = George Rupp
 | birth_date       = {{birth date|1912|03|02}}
 | birth_place      = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
 | death_date       = {{death date and age|2007|06|16|1912|03|02}}
 | death_place      = Temple, Texas, U.S.
 | occupation       = [[Chemist]], teacher, researcher, university president
 | spouse           = Gene Coulbourn <br/>(she died in 2002) 
 | known_for        = [[Chemistry:Electrochemistry|Electrochemistry]] of oxidation<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/23/us/23hackerman.html?fta=y&_r=0|title = Norman Hackerman, 95, Chemist and Former University President, is Dead|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 23 June 2007|last1 = Hevesi|first1 = Dennis}}</ref>
 | awards           = [[Organization:Vannevar Bush Award|Vannevar Bush Award]] {{small|(1993)}}<br>National Medal of Science {{small|(1993)}}
 | children         = three daughters and one son
 | module           = 
  {{Infobox scientist | embed=yes
  | fields            = [[Chemistry:Chemistry|Chemistry]]
  | workplaces        = {{ublist|[[Organization:Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University]]|Loyola College|Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University|[[Organization:University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas at Austin]]|[[Organization:Rice University|Rice University]]}}
  | education         = 
  | alma_mater        = [[Organization:Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University]]
  | thesis_title      = A study of the effect of solvent and concentration on the molecular weight of sulfur monochloride
  | thesis_url        = https://search.proquest.com/docview/301806716/
  | thesis_year       = 1935
  | doctoral_advisor  = Walter Albert Patrick
  | academic_advisors = 
  | doctoral_students = 
  | notable_students  = 
  | known_for         = 
  | influences        = 
  | influenced        = 
  }}
}}

'''Norman Hackerman''' (March 2, 1912 – June 16, 2007) was an American [[Chemist|chemist]], [[Social:Professor|professor]], and [[Social:Academic administration|academic administrator]] who served as the 18th President of the [[Organization:University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas at Austin]] (1967–1970)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://president.utexas.edu/past-presidents/norman-hackerman|title=Norman Hackerman {{!}} Office of the President {{!}} The University of Texas at Austin|website=president.utexas.edu|date=11 January 2016|language=en|access-date=2018-08-05}}</ref> and later as the 4th President of [[Organization:Rice University|Rice University]] (1970–1985).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.rice.edu/2007/06/17/former-rice-university-president-norman-hackerman-dies-at-age-95/|title=Former Rice University President Norman Hackerman dies at age 95|website=news.rice.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-05}}</ref> He was an internationally known expert in metal [[Chemistry:Corrosion|corrosion]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.electrochem.org/hackerman| title = ECS Masters Series: Norman Hackerman}}</ref>

==Biography==
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the only son of Jacob Hackerman and Anna Raffel, immigrants from the Baltic regions of the [[Place:Russian Empire|Russian Empire]] that later became Estonia and Latvia, respectively.<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/23/us/23hackerman.html
| title = Norman Hackerman, 95, Chemist and Former University President, Is Dead
| newspaper = {{wipe|The New York Times}}
| first=Dennis
| last=Hevesi
| date=June 23, 2007
| access-date=May 20, 2010}}</ref>

Hackerman earned his bachelor's degree in 1932 and his doctor's degree in chemistry in 1935 from [[Organization:Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University]].<ref name="thesis-hackerman-1935">{{cite thesis |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/301806716/ |title=A study of the effect of solvent and concentration on the molecular weight of sulfur monochloride |date=1935 |publisher=[[Organization:Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University]] |type=Ph.D. |last=Hackerman |first=Norman |via=ProQuest |url-access=subscription  |oclc=699316631}}</ref> He taught at Johns Hopkins, Loyola College in Baltimore and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, before working on the [[Physics:Manhattan Project|Manhattan Project]] in World War II.<ref name=":0">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.utexas.edu/opa/news/2007/06/hackerman18.html
 |title       = Former President Norman Hackerman Dies in Temple, Texas at Age 95
 |publisher   = [[Organization:University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas at Austin]]
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070630001424/http://www.utexas.edu/opa/news/2007/06/hackerman18.html
 |archive-date = 2007-06-30
}}</ref>

He joined the University of Texas in 1945 as an assistant professor of chemistry, became an associate professor in 1946, a full professor in 1950, a department chair in 1952, dean of research in 1960, vice president and provost in 1961, and vice chancellor for academic affairs for the [[Organization:University of Texas System|University of Texas System]] in 1963. Hackerman left the University of Texas in 1970 for Rice, where he retired 15 years later. He was named professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Texas in 1985 and taught classes until the end of his life.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.electrochem.org/hackerman|title=Norman Hackerman - ECS|work=ECS|access-date=2018-04-09|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norman Hackerman |url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/deceased-members/20001372.html |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=www.nasonline.org}}</ref> the American Philosophical Society,<ref>{{Cite web |title=APS Member History |url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Norman+Hackerman&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref> and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norman Hackerman |url=https://www.amacad.org/person/norman-hackerman |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=American Academy of Arts & Sciences |language=en}}</ref> Among his many honors are the Olin Palladium Award of the [[Organization:Electrochemical Society|Electrochemical Society]], the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Chemists (1978), the Charles Lathrop Parsons Award, the [[Organization:Vannevar Bush Award|Vannevar Bush Award]] and the National Medal of Science.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=9694
 |title       = Former Rice University President Norman Hackerman dies at age 95
 |publisher   = [[Organization:Rice University|Rice University]]
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100605204104/http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=9694
 |archive-date = 2010-06-05
}}</ref> He was awarded the Acheson Award by the [[Organization:Electrochemical Society|Electrochemical Society]] in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.electrochem.org/awards/ecs/recipients/acheson_recipients.htm|title= Edward Goodrich Acheson Award Recipients|publisher= [[Organization:Electrochemical Society|Electrochemical Society]]|access-date= 1 November 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160118114604/http://www.electrochem.org/awards/ecs/recipients/acheson_recipients.htm|archive-date= 18 January 2016|url-status= dead}}</ref>

Hackerman served on advisory committees and boards of several technical societies and government agencies, including the [[Organization:National Science Board|National Science Board]], the Texas Governor's Task Force on Higher Education and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Welch Foundation. He also served as editor of the ''Journal of the Electrochemical Society'' and as president of the [[Organization:Electrochemical Society|Electrochemical Society]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ECS President - Norman Hackerman|url=http://www.electrochem.org/dl/hc/presidents/hackerman.htm|website=The Electrochemical Society|access-date=2014-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923235211/http://www.electrochem.org/dl/hc/presidents/hackerman.htm|archive-date=2015-09-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Family ==
Hackerman's wife of 61 years, Gene Coulbourn, died in 2002; they had three daughters and one son.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

== Legacy ==
In 1982 The Electrochemical Society created the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150721022447/http://www.electrochem.org/awards/ecs/ecs_awards.htm#k Norman Hackerman Young Author Award] to honor the best paper published in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society for a topic in the field of electrochemical science and technology by a young author or authors. In 2000 the Welch Foundation created the Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research to recognize the work of young researchers in {{wipe|Texas}}. The Rice Board of Trustees established the '''Norman Hackerman Fellowship in Chemistry''' in honor of Hackerman's 90th birthday in 2002. In 2008, the original Experimental Science Building at the University of Texas at Austin campus was demolished and rebuilt as the Norman Hackerman Experimental Science Building in his name and honor. The building was completed in late 2010, with the opening and dedication ceremony on March 2, 2011, which was both Hackerman's 99th Birthday and the 175th Anniversary of Texas Independence. The main building at the J. Erik Jonsson Center of the National Academy of Sciences is '''Hackerman House''', named in his honor. Hackerman House overlooks Quissett Harbor in Woods Hole MA, on Cape Cod.

== See also ==
* History of the Jews in Houston

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070705103414/http://www.welch1.org/Awards/NormanHackermanAwar11BD/index.asp Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150721022447/http://www.electrochem.org/awards/ecs/ecs_awards.htm#k Electrochemical Society Norman Hackerman Young Author Award]

{{S-start}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef|before=Harry Ransom}} 
{{s-ttl|title=President of University of Texas at Austin|years=1967–1970}} 
{{s-aft|after=Bryce Jordan}}
{{s-bef|before=Kenneth Sanborn Pitzer}} 
{{s-ttl|title=President of Rice University|years=1970–1985}} 
{{s-aft|after=George Erik Rupp}}
{{S-end}}

{{Winners of the National Medal of Science|chemistry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hackerman, Norman}}
[[Category:Electrochemistry]]

{{Sourceattribution|Norman Hackerman}}