Troy, N.Y. - Sunscreen developer Howard P. Isermann, Class of 1942, is one of eight new members of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Alumni Hall of Fame.

After earning his degree in chemical engineering, Howard Isermann joined Van Dyk & Co. There he developed the ultraviolet absorber that has become the most effective sunscreen in the world. In 1980, he founded Novarome Inc., manufacturer of fragrance compounds used in a wide variety of consumer products from soaps to perfumes.

Isermann joined Rensselaer's board of trustees in 1986 and was named an honorary trustee in 1998. His commitment to chemical engineering at Rensselaer has been exceptional as both chairman of the Chemical Engineering Advisory Council and generous benefactor of fellowships and professorships. In 1989, the Institute renamed the department the Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical Engineering. Isermann has been active on the School of Engineering Advisory Board, is a leader in alumni and fund-raising activities, and received the RAA's Distinguished Service Award in 1994, the highest award the association bestows.

Isermann was formally inducted into the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame during a ceremony on campus Sept.19. Other 2003 inductees are: J. Christopher Jaffe, leading acoustician, Class of 1949; Robert Resnick, world-famous physics educator; Myles N. Brand, NCAA president and leader in higher education, Class of 1964; and Lois Graham leader in engineering education, Class of 1946. Inducted posthumously this year are astronaut John L. Swigert Jr., Class of 1965; engineer and inventor Walter Irving, Class of 1896; and geologist Douglass Houghton, Class of 1829.

About the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame
In 1995, the Rensselaer Alumni Association established its Alumni Hall of Fame to preserve and celebrate the long and exceptional heritage of Rensselaer's distinguished graduates. This year's inductees to the Alumni Hall of Fame bring to 49 the total number of members. Since its founding in 1824, Rensselaer has graduated alumni whose contributions to society - from 19th century railroad and bridge builders to today's information technology entrepreneurs - have changed the world. For more information, visit the Hall of Fame at http://www.rpi.edu/about/hof/.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu