Friday, June 12, 2026
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. PDT
Kane Hall 130, UW Seattle
Commencement Details
Doors open at 4 p.m. Please arrive prior to the start time. No one will be allowed to enter once the ceremony begins.
Please join AIChE and the ChemE Department for a reception in Benson Hall following the ceremony.
Commencement Schedule
Welcome
Elizabeth Nance, Department Chair
Award Presentation and Alumni Address
Bret Snyder (Ph.D. '96), 2026 R. Wells Moulton Distinguished Alumnus in Industry
Graduate Student Address
Ruby Jin (Ph.D. '26)
Presentation of Graduate Degrees
Elizabeth Nance, Department Chair, and SeEun Kim, Academic Program Manager
Faculty Address
Alex Prybutok, Assistant Teaching Professor
Undergraduate Student Address
Lauren Ellis and Helen Feldhaus (B.S. '26)
Presentation of Undergraduate Degrees
Elizabeth Nance, Department Chair, and SeEun Kim, Academic Program Manager
Closing
Elizabeth Nance, Department Chair
About Bret Snyder, 2026 Moulton Distinguished Alumnus in Industry
Bret Snyder
President & CEO, Chair of the Board
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Bret Snyder is President and Chief Executive Officer of W. L. Gore & Associates and Chair of the company’s Board of Directors. He became Chair in 2016 and assumed the CEO role in October 2020.
W. L. Gore & Associates applies deep materials science expertise and application knowledge to solve complex technical challenges across its Fabrics, Medical, Performance Solutions and Specialty businesses. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Gore is a privately held company with approximately 13,000 Associates worldwide and annual revenues of $5.3 billion.
As CEO, Bret has guided Gore’s innovation to expand its impact, toward emerging and high-growth industries such as healthcare and renewable energy. He led the development of the Gore Business System (GBS), which defines and standardizes Gore’s proven ways of working, and championed the modernization of the company’s digital infrastructure.
Before becoming CEO, Bret worked as a full-time Associate from 2008 to 2016 in roles spanning research and development, product and enterprise strategy. He joined Gore’s Board of Directors in 2011 and serves on several committees. From 2011 to 2016, he also served as a trustee for one of Gore’s retirement benefit plans.
Earlier in his career, Bret held business and R&D positions at Rohm and Haas Company. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Brown University and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Washington.
A grandson of company founders Bill and Vieve Gore, Bret continues to uphold their legacy of innovation and collaboration. He and his wife live in Delaware and have four children. His interests include triathlons, hiking and reading.