Paul and Grayce Anderson Honored With Hubbard Award at Evening of Distinction
UNH recognized Paul and Grayce "Jane" Anderson with the Hubbard Family Award for Service to Philanthropy at the university’s annual Evening of Distinction celebration Oct. 1. The event is UNH’s signature celebration of alumni and the impact of philanthropy.
The Hubbard Award is UNH’s “highest honor bestowed upon those whose philanthropic leadership has significantly strengthened the state of New Hampshire, its communities, and the university.” It was established in 2001 to honor Oliver, Austin, and Leslie Hubbard.
HUBBARD AWARD
Paul and Grayce Anderson
UNH is where the story began for Paul and Grayce Anderson, who met during their time as students on campus. They both went on to successful and fulfilling careers in the field of chemistry and have continued their UNH story with transformational support for the university’s chemistry department, support that has and will make a real and lasting impact for generations of students and faculty.
Paul and Grayce Anderson at Evening of Distinction.
Between their philanthropy to date, which has helped advance high-priority research and faculty excellence in chemistry at UNH, and a legacy gift of nearly half their amassed wealth to be bestowed upon the chemistry department, the Andersons are among the top five most generous benefactors in UNH history.
Support from the Andersons helped fund the university’s first endowed professorship in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences — the Gloria G. and Dr. Robert E. Lyle Professorship, named in honor of Paul’s beloved faculty mentor, Robert Lyle, and his wife, Gloria. Paul credits Lyle’s guidance and mentorship as a big part of his inspiration to pursue what would become a lifetime career in medicinal chemistry.
That career saw Paul spend time at Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, DuPont Pharmaceuticals, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, helping direct several groundbreaking drug discovery efforts. He spent time as vice president of chemistry at Merck and later as senior vice president for chemical and physical sciences at DuPont, and earned numerous awards throughout his career, including the Priestley Medal, the highest honor granted by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Grayce spent her professional career as a chemist with Pfizer. She was something of a trailblazer in the field of chemistry at a time when few women were breaking through in the industry, and she stepped away after a handful of years to care for aging parents and to support Paul as he ascended to influential leadership roles.
UNH has a rich history of pioneering success in chemistry — our own Conant Hall was designated by the American Chemical Society as its first National Historic Chemical Landmark in New England — and the Andersons have positioned the department to carry that strength through the present and well into the future thanks to their vision and generosity. They have left an unmistakably powerful imprint on UNH.