Announcing the Upcoming Retirement of Anita M. Orendt

Anita M. Orendt is a dedicated educator and researcher with a rich background in physical chemistry. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and earned her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Utah in 1987.

Anita has made significant contributions to the academic community at the University of Utah. Since 2015, she has served as a Research Associate Professor of Chemistry while also working as the Assistant Director for Research Consulting and Faculty Engagement at the Center for High Performance Computing. Her career at the university spans over three decades, including roles as a staff scientist, lecturer, and postdoctoral research assistant.

Throughout her chemistry career, Anita has inspired countless students in various chemistry courses. She was active in the Salt Lake local chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS) as well an advisor for the University of Utah ACS Student Affiliate Chapter. Anita has been recognized for her excellence in education, receiving the W.W. Epstein Outstanding Educator Award from the Department of Chemistry and more recently being honored as the 2024 Utah Award in the Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Research Institution category from the combined Central Utah and Salt Lake ACS Local Sections.

Anita is also actively involved in computing professional societies, contributing to advanced computing initiatives and serving as a campus champion for XSEDE, an organization that supports high-performance computing, as well as being active in the Campus Research Computing Consortium (CaRCC). In 2018, she was honored with the District Staff Excellence Award from the University of Utah.

As she transitions into retirement, Anita looks forward to embracing new travel adventures, as well as spending time on personal hobbies such as gardening and quilting.