Dec. 18, 2012 – Four University of Utah faculty members – including President David W. Pershing – have been elected as charter fellows of the National Academy of Inventors.

In addition to Pershing, who also is a distinguished professor of chemical engineering, the other new charter fellows from the U are Stephen C. Jacobsen, distinguished professor of mechanical engineering; Thomas N. Parks, vice president for research and professor of neurobiology and anatomy; and Sung Wan Kim, distinguished professor of pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry.

The honor “is bestowed upon academic innovators and inventors who have demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions and innovations that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society,” the academy says.

The four Utah faculty members are among 98 new charter fellows of the academy from 54 universities and nonprofit research institutes. There are 12 university or research institute presidents among the new fellows, including Pershing.

The new charter fellows will be inducted by U.S. Commissioner for Patents Margaret Focarino on Feb. 22, 2013, when the academy holds its second annual conference in Tampa, Fla.