Henry T. Mudd Prize Awarded to Chemistry Professor Hal Van Ryswyk

Hal Van Ryswyk, John Stauffer Professor of Chemistry, is the recipient of the 2025 Henry T. Mudd Prize, an award that recognizes extraordinary service. The honor was announced at the College’s Commencement ceremony, May 18.

Awardees receive $6,000, $3,000 of which is designated for use within the College at the discretion of the recipient.

Van Ryswyk has been a member of the faculty since 1986. In addition to teaching courses in nanomaterials and advanced analytical chemistry, he and his students do research in three areas: Creating low-cost photovoltaics that can be produced easily for large-area applications; determining lead levels in soil from vehicle emissions; and developing experiments for instructional general chemistry, instrumental methods, and nanoscale materials chemistry laboratories. During leave this fall, Van Ryswyk will work in the Photophysics and OptoElectronics Group at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in the Netherlands.

“I feel blessed to be a member of this exciting and engaging community where we learn together while advancing our collective mission,” said Van Ryswyk. “The students, staff and faculty make this a special place, and it’s humbling to join an impressive list of staff and faculty who have been honored for their contributions.”

The annual Henry T. Mudd Prize is part of the commitment by Harvey Mudd College to foster a supportive and inclusive workplace environment.

Text of the Henry T. Mudd Prize citation awarded to Hal Van Ryswyk

For nearly four decades of extraordinary service to Harvey Mudd College through inspired teaching, impactful research, and steadfast dedication;

For broad impact in both the Harvey Mudd and Claremont communities, fostering educational collaboration, creating ties to the Claremont Unified School District that benefitted both our students and those in the greater community, and promoting the values of science and service;

For his unwavering commitment to the College’s most consequential endeavors—including service on the WASC Steering Committee, the RPT2 Committee, the Academic Contingency Planning Committee during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Pilot Postdoctoral Program, and the Presidential Search Committee for Harvey Mudd’s fifth president—he has offered discernment, quiet resolve, and enduring grace at moments that have shaped the institution’s past, present and future;

For integrating societal challenges into the chemistry curriculum, creating modules to teach electrochemistry through real-world applications, demonstrating the connection between chemistry and future energy solutions;

For his championing of interdisciplinary environmental education, his role in establishing the Environmental Analysis emphasis, and his recruitment and support of its inaugural faculty leadership;

For exceptional mentorship, consistently guiding students and junior faculty to success both in the classroom and in research, creating a supportive environment for the next generation of scientists;

For his significant contributions to advancing the College’s mission through exceptional service, including leadership roles such as Chair of the Chemistry Department and Chair of the Faculty, serving with wisdom and tact, ensuring clear communication between faculty, the administration, and the Board of Trustees;

For his profound embodiment of the mission of Harvey Mudd College—empowering students and colleagues alike to engage deeply with the ethical dimensions of their disciplines and to recognize and respond to the broader social impact of their work with insight, integrity, and purpose;

Hal Van Ryswyk, the John Stauffer Chair in Chemistry, is hereby designated as the 2025 recipient of the Henry T. Mudd Prize.