Bruce A. Kowert, Ph.D., an emeritus professor of chemistry at Saint Louis University, died March 20 at the age of 84.
Kowert was a long-serving faculty member who played a significant role in the Department of Chemistry’s growth and research achievements. His contributions to teaching and research impacted many students and colleagues over his decades-long career.
R. Scott Martin, Ph.D., associate dean in the School of Science and Engineering, said, “Bruce was a steady voice in the Department of Chemistry. He is one of the pillars of the department’s research success today. As an Emeritus Professor, he was still a daily presence in the department, diligently working on manuscripts. The Department of Chemistry was a big part of his family, and he will be sorely missed.”
A native Texan, Kowert earned both his bachelor’s degree and doctorate in chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin before post-doctoral work at universities in Basel and Los Angeles. He began his academic career as a visiting assistant professor at Michigan State University before joining Saint Louis University (SLU) as an assistant professor in 1977. He became a full professor by 1989.
During his time at SLU—a university that maintains Jesuit educational traditions emphasizing care for individuals according to its official website—Kowert taught more than sixteen different courses including general and physical chemistry to over ten thousand undergraduates. In recognition for his dedication to teaching excellence, he received the Faculty Excellence Award from SLU’s Student Government Association in 2009.
Alexei V. Demchenko, Ph.D., chair of chemistry at SLU said: “He helped us to stay in touch and engage many of our alumni… This is the kind of educator and exceptional individual Dr. Kowert was.”
Kowert remained active after retirement in 2021 by continuing to teach classes through as recently as 2025 while also mentoring undergraduate and graduate researchers; during his career he published thirty-five journal articles.
Saint Louis University offers more than one hundred undergraduate programs along with numerous graduate options according to its official website. The university supports community engagement through service initiatives addressing social needs as reported by its official website, pursues truth for humanity’s benefit according to its official website, extends operations internationally with a campus located in Madrid according to its official website, providing global study opportunities.
