40 Facts About Holden Thorp

Herbert Holden Thorp was born on August 16,1964 and is an American chemist, professor and entrepreneur.

Holden Thorp is a professor of chemistry at George Washington University and Editor and Chief of Science.

Holden Thorp was the tenth chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, assuming the position on July 1,2008, succeeding James Moeser, and, at age 43, was noted as being among the youngest leaders of a university in the United States.

At the time of his selection as chancellor, Thorp was the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a Kenan Professor of chemistry at the university.

In September 2012, Holden Thorp announced his intention to resign following allegations of academic fraud, effective from June 30,2013, and to return to teaching in the chemistry department at UNC, following a scandal involving the NCAA.

Holden Thorp took over as provost on July 1,2013, replacing Edward Macias.

Holden Thorp stepped down as the provost of Washington University in St Louis on July 15,2019.

Holden Thorp continues to hold the Rita Levi-Montalcini Distinguished University Professorship of Chemistry and Medicine at Washington University.

Holden Thorp was an attorney who earned an undergraduate degree from UNC in 1954 and a law degree, from UNC, in 1956.

Holden Thorp's mother, Olga "Bo" Thorp, a 1956 UNC graduate, was a native of Columbia, South Carolina.

Holden Thorp's parents were Italian immigrants who died when she was 15.

Herb Holden Thorp was its first president, and Bo Holden Thorp was its creative director for 50 years until stepping down in April 2012.

Holden Thorp's parents moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1960 and Holden Thorp was born there on August 16,1964.

Holden Thorp spent much of his youth involved with the theater, performing in productions led by his mother, and met his future wife, Patti Worden, in 1974 at the theater.

Holden Thorp attended St Patrick Catholic School, a private middle school.

In summer 1981, at age 17, while studying guitar at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Holden Thorp won first place and a $500 prize in a northeast regional competition to solve a Rubik's Cube puzzle.

Holden Thorp came fifth in the national competition and won first place again in a regional competition the following year, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Holden Thorp completed doctoral work in three years instead of the normal five at the California Institute of Technology in 1989, earning a Ph.

Holden Thorp completed post-doctoral work with Gary Brudvig at Yale University in 1990.

In 1991, Holden Thorp began teaching as an associate professor of chemistry at North Carolina State University.

Holden Thorp was awarded a Presidential Young Investigator Award in 1991 by the National Science Foundation, which provided $100,000 of research funding annually for five years.

In 1996, Holden Thorp co-founded the biotechnology company Alderaan Diagnostics, later renamed Xanthon, Inc.

In 2001, Holden Thorp was recognized by Fortune Small Business as a Small Business Innovator for the work that led to the founding of the company.

In 2005, Holden Thorp co-founded Viamet Pharmaceuticals, another biotechnology company, to develop treatments for cancer and other diseases.

Holden Thorp is no longer involved in the operation of the company.

Holden Thorp was previously a venture partner at Hatteras Venture Partners, co-founded by his brother Clay.

Holden Thorp gave up that role after being named chancellor of UNC in 2008, and his equity stake in the firm was transferred to a blind trust.

Holden Thorp is a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Holden Thorp returned to his alma mater in 1993 to teach, rising from visiting assistant professor to professor in six years.

In 2001, Holden Thorp became the director of the Morehead Planetarium, part of UNC.

Holden Thorp led the 2005 committee that selected the book as recommended reading for that fall's incoming freshmen, Blood Done Sign My Name: A True Story, by a North Carolina native Timothy B Tyson.

Holden Thorp became the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2007, after a nationwide search.

In 2013, Holden Thorp resigned from the position of chancellor amid allegations of widespread academic fraud, which were later outlined in the Wainstein Report.

Holden Thorp worked in lighting for productions at the theater company directed by his mother and later took on the music.

Holden Thorp took piano and guitar lessons and formed a garage band as a teenager.

Holden Thorp has written several musicals and has played piano with his local church.

Holden Thorp has played with Equinox, a local jazz band.

In 1998, Holden Thorp was the musical director for a performance of The Sound of Music, in which his wife played Maria von Trapp, and as a result, missed the ceremony at which the Tanner award recipients were recognized.

Holden Thorp was named a Distinguished Young Alumnus in 2002 by the UNC General Alumni Association.

In 2024 Holden Thorp revealed he has autism, using the announcement to make the case that the scientific community can benefit from better recognition and nurturing of individuals with the condition.