Dr. David F. MacInnes became involved in his profession due to the influence of his high school chemistry teacher, who ignited Dr. MacInnes’ passion for science. Upon attending Earlham College, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1965, where he discovered his love for chemistry. From there, he earned a Master of Arts and PhD from Princeton University in 1970 and 1972, respectively.
After obtaining a master’s degree, Dr. MacInnes served as a chemistry teacher at the Westtown School in Pennsylvania for three years before beginning his longstanding tenure at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1973. First serving as an assistant professor for nine years, he escalated through the ranks to associate professor of chemistry in 1982 and full professor of chemistry in 1991. He attained emeritus status in 2011. During his tenure, he was a visiting professor at Simon Fraser College in Canada, a visiting associate chemist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.
A holder of eight patents in the field, Dr. MacInnes notably conducted research in the field that garnered the Nobel Prize. He has further contributed articles to professional journals and recently authored a book and a pamphlet. To remain abreast of developments in the industry, he maintains affiliation with the American Chemical Society, where he served as chairman of the North Carolina chapter in 1986, and Sigma Xi, where he sat on the board of directors of his local chapter in 1982. Impressively, Dr. MacInnes was honored with the Dolittle Award from the American Chemical Society in 1981.
Among the notable highlights of his career, Dr. MacInnes recalls being granted the Lindbergh Foundation Fellowship for research in his field as a crowning achievement, as he was the only chemist to receive the fellowship. He traveled to San Diego and spoke before 3,000 people, and he had the opportunity to meet Buzz Aldrin, the mayor of San Francisco and a congressman from California.
In his spare time, Dr. MacInnes enjoys music, dancing and woodworking. He is a member of the American Association of Wood Turners. Married to his wife Barbara Ellen Hardy MacInnes since 1972, he is the proud father of three children and grandfather of four grandchildren.
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