University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

William F. Banholzer

William F. Banholzer

William F. Banholzer

2019 Distinguished Alumni Award

Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Dow Chemical

MS 81, PhD 83

During his career with GE and Dow Chemical, Dr. Banholzer worked on artificial diamonds, plastics, solar-powered shingles, lighting, stealth technology, and more. At Dow Chemical, he was an executive vice president, leading venture capital, new business development, and licensing activities, and chief technology officer. Dr. Banholzer was named a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2002 for his breakthroughs in stealth materials and contributions to the isotope effect in solid-state physics, and for business leadership. He joined the Wisconsin faculty in 2013 after retiring from Dow. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences presented him with an Alumni Achievement Award in 2014.