Upon his retirement, Karnes named professor emeritus
Thomas Karnes, pharmaceutics professor and graduate program director, has retired from VCU School of Pharmacy as of Feb. 28.
Karnes, who earned his Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Florida, was hired by the School of Pharmacy in 1984 as an assistant professor with the then-Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics. He was promoted to professor in ’96.
In December, during the Department of Pharmaceutics’ annual awards reception, departmental chairman Peter Byron noted Karnes’ upcoming retirement. “Tom has been a great faculty member,” he said. “I really appreciate him.”
Karnes, he said, has championed good-quality, quantitative chemical analysis within the school for more than three decades. “He has done an excellent job.”
During his tenure, Karnes has won multiple research and service awards, been elected to national office in pharmaceutical science and enjoyed wide recognition in the pharmaceutical science and analytical chemistry communities. He has published more than 155 papers and brought in millions of research dollars.
The accomplishment of which he is most proud, however, is having mentored 35 graduate and postdoctoral students.
“All have done well in their careers and many have won awards as students,” Karnes said. “The memories I have of each one of my students and their friendship over the years is the most fulfilling and rewarding part of my career, thus far.”
Byron notes that Karnes has been on the research committees of many graduate students across the school and the university. “He has ensured that our graduates also leave with a good sense of drug analysis.
“In addition,” Byron said, “Tom’s a nice human being. We wish him well.”
Karnes will continue serving as editor of the Journal of Chromatography B, publishing with colleague Matt Halquist and teaching on occasion. He also will continue to pursue his culinary interests, teaching culinary arts at the University of Richmond and developing a partnership to include three Firehouse chain restaurants. The future, he said, might also include something even more creative … something along the lines of a food truck.
In January, Karnes received confirmation from VCU President Michael Rao that his appointment as professor emeritus had been approved, effective March 1.
A letter signed by Rao stated, “This appointment is made in recognition of 31 years of devoted service as a distinguished faculty member, administrator and teacher. This university’s greatness is founded on the strength of its faculty, and your colleagues and I sincerely appreciate the many contributions you have made during your tenure at VCU.
“Congratulations on an exceptional career.”
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