James A. Kent

James A. Kent received the BSChE from West Virginia University in 1943, the MSChE in 1948 and his PhD in 1950.

From 1950 to 1954, Kent was a project engineer and research group leader with Dow Chemical and Monsanto, respectively.

In 1954 he returned to WVU as assistant professor of chemical engineering. He was later promoted to professor and in 1962 was named associate dean and associate director of the Engineering Experiment Station.

In 1967, Kent became the first dean of engineering at Michigan Technology University and in 1978 accepted the position of dean of engineering and science at the University of Detroit.

Throughout his career, Kent has served on several national and state advisory groups. These include: advisory committee on the Artificial Heart Program of the National Heart and Lung Institute (1969 73); materials advisory committee, U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (1975 77); chairman, Michigan Governor's Hazardous Waste Management Planning Committee (1980 1985). Among his current professional activities, Kent is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education and the Water Environment Federation. He serves the WEF as a member of its government affairs and hazardous wastes committees.

Kent has published and presented several papers and is editor of Riegel's Handbook of Industrial Chemistry. The 1,500-page ninth edition of the Handbook was published in December 1992. Kent and his wife, the former Anita Barbe of Morgantown, are the parents of five sons.