Mississippi State University’s  Department of Chemistry has recently earned some new bragging rights. 
Professor Peter Rabideau was just distinguished as a fellow in the American Chemical Society.  Rabideau is the first person in the state of Mississippi to have  received this prestigious award.
Rabideau has been a chemistry professor at MSU for eight years.  He came to MSU in 2003 as provost and vice president for academic affairs, as well as a chemistry professor, until 2009 when he became a full-time professor of chemistry.  He has been a member of the ACS for the past 35 years.  He said he really appreciates having received this honor.
“I am very pleased for the recognition,” Rabideau said.  “I hope it brings some national attention to MSU.”
The ACS is the largest scientific society in the world.  It is a society dedicated to science, specifically the study and inquiry of chemistry. There are currently over 161,000 members. There were 213 members who were selected in this year’s class of fellows.   John Adams, chair of the ACS Fellows Oversight committee, said the program was created to recognize their members. 
“The Fellows Program was approved in 2008 by the ACS Board of Directors to honor our members who have demonstrated excellence in their contributions to chemical sciences and in service to the ACS and the chemistry community,” Adams said.
Rabideau previously lived in Indiana before moving to Mississippi.  He said he did most of the work that earned him his title while he was there.
“I was chairman of the Indiana section and also served as their national counselor for many years,” Rabideau said.  “I have about 135 publications, some of which have received national attention and was also named a fellow of American Association of the Advancement of Science.”
To receive fellowship in the ACS, the member must also be nominated.  Rabideau was initially nominated by Edwin Lewis, head of the chemistry department.  Lewis said he has known Rabideau since 2008 and was glad to nominate him.
“I nominated him for the award and got some secondary nominations from a couple of other prestigious institutions not only for his research, teaching and longstanding career in chemistry, but also his services to the ACS, as well as being a first class researcher, teacher and administrator in several institutions,” Lewis said.
Lewis said he is happy for Rabideau and for the effects his fellowship would have on MSU.
“It adds credibility to our program to have someone of his stature in our department,” Lewis said.
Fellow chemistry professor, Andrzej Sygula, is another person who is pleased for Rabideau’s new fellowship. Sygula was a post-doctor under Rabideau in Indiana and has collaborated with him for a long time in organic chemistry research.  He came with Rabideau to teach at MSU.
“I’ve known him for over 20 years, and I call him a friend, as well as a collaborator,” Sygula said.  “This is a big deal for him, the university and all of our school.”
Rabideau and the 212 other fellows of the 2011 class were honored at a ceremony during a national ACS meeting in Denver on Aug. 29.