George P. Nassos
Why did you choose Northwestern?
I earned my BS in chemical engineering at the University of Illinois, and they wouldn't let me stay for graduate school. They wanted me to learn from another faculty. They recommended Northwestern and it was close to home.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience? What was it then and/or what it is now?
It was a great experience as my research was conducted at Argonne National Laboratory. I developed a technology to measure void fraction in an air-water system that resembled a steam-water system
Tell us who or what inspired your research and/or work.
I had a great professor who recommended this work and asked that I conduct it at ANL as it had a great application. His name was Dr. George Bankoff
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
After I earned my PhD, I was hired by an international chemical company, and placed in a laboratory to conduct research. As I was more interested in the business side, I returned to Northwestern on a part-time basis and earned my MBA. A few years later, this company asked me to move to Cologne, Germany to run the European subsidiary. I did this for three years, probably the best three years of my life. I returned home but a few months later, I was sent to turn around another chemical subsidiary in The Netherland which was a one-year project that ended successfully.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
After 32 years in the corporate world, I went into academia as the Director of MS in Sustainability Management programs at IIT-Stuart School of Business for 14 years and a similar program at DePaul University for 3 years. I am now working to launch a private business school for local and international students.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
I was fortunate to obtain a technical degree and followed it with an MBA. That combination provides outstanding opportunities. Also, if you have a chance to work in a foreign economy, take advantage of it while young. I was fortunate that my children were aged two and four when we moved to Germany. It was somewhat difficult for my wife, but all in all, it was a great experience for all of us, even though my daughter, who was two years old at the time, today doesn't remember any of her experiences.