Investiture celebrates two chemistry faculty members

In chemistry, the right combination of essential elements can lead to scientific discoveries that impact the world.

Drawing a comparison, Rosa Milagros Santos, associate provost of faculty development at Illinois, described as “essential elements” the generosity of individuals who support faculty research and the talented faculty members who benefit from their support. 

“Combining these two elements, you have the potential to change the world,” Santos said during the investiture of chemistry faculty member Christy Landes as the Jerry A. Walker Chair in Chemistry and chemistry faculty member Stephan Link as the Charles W. and Genevieve M. Walton Professor in Chemistry.

"Professor Landes and Professor Link both exemplify the multidisciplinary, borderless and comprehensive approach to research, teaching and public engagement that has defined Illinois for 158 years and counting,” Santos said. “And there is no more visible evidence of the generosity of individuals to be found than with both of our donors, the Walker family, and the Walton family. Both the Walker family and the Walton family recognize the importance of our mission, how the university can play a transformational role in society.”

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences celebrated the investiture of Landes and Link in a combined ceremony on April 15 in the Illini Union with friends, family, and colleagues of both honorees in attendance along with members of the Walker family.

In congratulating Professor Landes and Professor Link, Venetria K. Patton, dean of the College of LAS, said the research and scholarship of faculty drive new knowledge and create positive change across the university community.

“Our outstanding faculty members are at the heart of all that we do and all that we aspire to achieve in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,” Patton said. “Thank you, Professor Landes and Professor Link, for all that you have contributed to our college as scholars and educators."

Christy Landes — Jerry A. Walker Chair in Chemistry

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The Jerry A. Walker Endowed Chair Fund was established in 2021 by Christine Walker in memory of her husband, who grew up in a small, rural community in southern Illinois and began his academic journey at the U. of I., graduating in May 1969 with a B.S. in chemistry. In 1975, Walker joined The Upjohn Company as a research scientist and was promoted throughout his 29-year career to various positions, including vice president of bulk drug process research and development and quality/environmental compliance and leadership of global active pharmaceutical ingredient process research and development. 

His niece, Jennifer McNeilly, is also an Illinois alum (BS, ‘99, mathematics; MS, ‘01, teaching of mathematics; PhD, ‘21, educational psychology) and is the Director of the Math Merit program in the Department of Mathematics at Illinois.

McNeilly, whose father was a brother to Jerry Walker, attended the investiture and spoke on behalf of her aunt, Christine Walker, who watched a livestream of the ceremony. McNeilly also spoke on behalf of several other Walker family members who attended the ceremony.

"My dad noted that one of Jerry's core beliefs and Aunt Christine’s is that education is an essential tool in personal development. As modest as he was, we all believe that Jerry would be really honored to have his name associated with continuing scientific research and teaching at the highest levels here at Illinois,” McNeilly said.

Then McNeilly read a saying that her Aunt Christine had recently shared.

"We die once when the last breath leaves our bodies, and we die a second time when the last person speaks our name,” McNeilly said. “So, on behalf of the Walker family, we're very honored that Jerry’s name will continue to be spoken at Illinois and we wish his sincere congratulations to Dr. Landes as the first Jerry A. Walker Endowed Chair in Chemistry.”

Landes began her independent academic career in 2006 as an assistant professor at the University of Houston and moved to Rice University in 2009 where she was promoted to associate professor in 2014, full professor in 2017, and to the Kenneth S. Pitzer–Schlumberger Chair of Chemistry in 2021. Landes came to Illinois in 2023 and is now the Jerry A. Walker Endowed Chair in Chemistry with appointments in electrical and computer engineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering.

Professor Catherine J. Murphy, Larry R. Faulkner Endowed Chair in Chemistry, and Head, Department of Chemistry, said she met Landes for the first time many years ago in Houston while giving a seminar.

“We talked about her ideas to make chromatography more quantitative and useful for protein separations. And I remember thinking way back then that Christy had a ton of drive and ambition and was really going to make some major progress in this field—the predictions which have been amply borne out,” Murphy said. “I'm personally very thrilled we were able to recruit her to join us in 2023 and in no small part due to this endowed chair in chemistry. She's been a wonderful colleague.”

Landes began her comments by thanking Christine Walker “for her generous, generous gift.”

“One of the things that Stephan and I discovered right away when it became public that we were going to join the U. of I. are the loyal, successful, amazing alumni all over the planet who are very, very proud to support the education and training they've gotten here. So, we're very much honored,” Landes said. 

She said like Jerry Walker, she also grew up in a small, rural community and her work is also related to the pharmaceutical industry.

“It's an honor to be associated with his name,” Landes said.

Thanking Murphy, Patton, the College of LAS, and the university for the opportunity to come to Illinois, Landes said it is a dream come true for her to work with colleagues whose careers she has admired for years.

“You're looking at one of the luckiest people you'll ever meet,” said Landes, who also thanked the students and postdoctoral researchers in her group and Link. “Thank you all for everything you do, and of course, Stephan. One of the other crazy things about my life is I get lucky enough to work with my husband and partner every day.”

Stephan Link — Charles W. and Genevieve M. Walton Professor in Chemistry

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In 2006, Link started his independent academic career in the chemistry department at Rice University. He was promoted to associate professor in 2013, full professor in 2017, and the Charles W. Duncan, Jr.-Welch Chair in Chemistry in 2021. He moved to the U. of I. in 2024 and is now the Charles W. and Genevieve M. Walton Professor of Chemistry with a joint appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Murphy said she knew of Professor Link’s research long before she met him, which was about the same time she met Landes.

“Stephan has a very deep vision and a lot of drive to figure out how nanomaterials can best be harnessed for the benefit of humankind, as exemplified in some recent papers about the role of plasmon and interfacial charge transfer, which is one of the most fundamental events in solar energy conversion and photocatalysis,” Murphy said. “Stephan's work on the spectroscopy and individual and collective plasmonic nanostructures was and continues to be groundbreaking. He's a leader in femtosecond dynamics in these materials, which have implications for their use in a sustainable energy future.”

Murphy said she was thrilled when the university was able to bring Link to Illinois. 

"Again, in no small part due to this endowed professorship. He's been a wonderful colleague,” she said.

Alumnus Charles W. Walton (BS, ’30) and Genevieve M. Walton established the fund that supports Link's endowed professorship. After graduating from Illinois, Walton earned a PhD in chemistry from the University of Michigan and began his career at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where he contributed to the development of synthetic rubber. In 1947, he joined 3M Company and led their new products division before becoming vice president of corporate research and development. He and Genevieve shared 73 years of marriage, and she was equally dedicated to education and philanthropy, supporting scientific advancement and higher education throughout her life.

Stephan Link described the professorship as an unbelievable honor.

“My first thanks go to Charles and Genevieve Walton, and the Walton family... It is not just the prestige, but it's also the freedom to do a bit of different science that isn't funded yet, that goes in different directions, that makes academic freedom possible with no strings attached. I couldn't be more honored and grateful for that and, in general, grateful for the donors to the universities who make things like this possible,” said Link.

Link also thanked Murphy, Patton, and the provost’s office for the opportunity to come to Illinois and thanked his colleagues and fellow faculty members in chemistry and then thanked the students and others in his research group. 

"You're the reason why Christy and I are even here. It's been a pleasure working with everybody and seeing what you do because if you go off into the world and win the Nobel Prize and change the world, then maybe we had a little bit to do with it, and that's all that matters, right? So, thank you to all of you,” said Link, who had one last thank you. 

"And that's for Christy. I love you. Thank you for everything you do. And it wouldn't be possible without you,” Link said.