EIU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

1971

Dr. Terry Rotsch, B.S. '68, M.S. '71; Ph.D. University of Iowa;  Prior to obtaining his Ph.D., he taught at Edwardsville High School and the Elgin Academy. With his Ph.D. degree in hand, he began a career in industrial chemistry which carried him to greater and greater levels of responsibility.   After one year with Ball Corporation and one year with Peavy Company, he began work with Abbott Corporation, a major pharmaceutical company, based in North Chicago, IL.  He was with Abbott for twenty-one years, moving from the position of Analytical Chemist to Research Analytical Chemist to Senior Research Analytical Chemist to Research Investigator. Terry’s son, David, graduated from EIU with a degree in chemistry and is now in graduate school in chemistry at the University of Iowa.  A second son, Adam, received a degree in psychology from EIU, and his daughter Kathryn attended EIU for two years before transferring to a college closer to home. Upon retirement from Abbott Corporation, he taught chemistry and physics at Harvard High School for one year.  He was selected to receive an Outstanding Graduate Alumnus Award in 2010.