Dr. Gary April is a former head of The University of Alabama College of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. He first joined the College as an assistant professor in 1969 and went on to serve the department for more than 40 years. During that time, he ascended into numerous leadership roles within the University and externally. Most notably, he served as the state of Alabama’s director of the DOE/EPSCoR program from 1992 to 2008. While at the University, April led sustainability efforts through several innovative research projects focused on finding new ways to convert biomass and reduce waste. Additionally, April’s team conducted comprehensive investigations on the interactions between man-made reacting systems and natural bodies of water in the South.
Despite his many accomplishments as a researcher, April fell in love with the teaching component of his job. He made it a priority to get to know students on an individual level and took the initiative to explain concepts in a way that resonated with them. April credits these efforts with his progression as a teacher throughout his career and is proud of the success it engendered for his students.
April received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Service to Society Award and Outstanding Professor Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, as well as the T. Morris Hackney Endowed Faculty Leadership Award from UA’s College of Engineering.
Upon his retirement in 2007, April was designated as a professor emeritus of chemical engineering by The University of Alabama’s Board of Trustees. In the following years, he continued to teach part-time. In 1987, he became one of four founding members of the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, which celebrates the tradition of innovation and achievement of engineers throughout the state. Even in retirement, April has used his platform to honor engineers and foster an appreciation for the profession in the department, at the University, and beyond.
April is originally from Metairie, Louisiana, and received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Louisiana State University. He and his wife, Lynne, currently reside in Northport and have three children and four grandchildren.