Kean University Medallion Society Member Dr. Valerie Leeds Honors Her Mother’s Legacy at Kean University

December 2024

Valerie Leeds

Dr. Valerie Leeds recently made a lasting commitment to honor her mother’s legacy at Kean University, where Dr. Norma S. Leeds served as a pioneering chemistry professor and became the first woman to chair the Chemistry-Physics Department.

Through a charitable bequest in her will, Valerie established the Norma S. Leeds Memorial Endowed Scholarship, a gift that will fund an annual full-tuition scholarship for Kean undergraduates studying the natural sciences, especially those pursuing degrees in chemistry or biochemistry.

“It is only through private philanthropy that transformative scholarships such as this one can become a reality,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the Kean University Foundation.

This transformative endowment ensures that Dr. Norma Leeds’ remarkable contributions to Kean will continue to inspire future generations of scientists.

“There is no doubt that Dr. Norma Leeds left a profound impact on the lives of her students over the course of 30 years,” said Dr. George Chang, dean of the Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology. “She was a pioneer as a woman scholar in science and has left an indelible mark on the academic community. This scholarship will serve as a permanent legacy to Dr. Leeds while having a significant impact on our students.”

Valerie Leeds
“This scholarship will ensure that my mother’s dedication to higher education and her passion for science will never be forgotten. It is my hope that this scholarship serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring scientists.”
-Dr. Valerie Leeds

The scholarship will provide crucial support to students who demonstrate excellence in science and financial need, extending Dr. Leeds’ legacy of dedication to her students.

“This scholarship will not only provide deserving students with full tuition but will ensure that Dr. Norma Leeds’ unwavering dedication to education continues to inspire and support future scientists in a tangible and very meaningful way,” said Lori Funicello, director of planned giving at the Kean University Foundation.

Dr. Norma Leeds, a trailblazer in science, grew up in New York City and, defying the norms of her time, earned a biology degree from Hunter College at age 16. She became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry from Rutgers University in 1952.

After joining Kean as its first female chemistry professor, she led the Chemistry-Physics Department, and upon her retirement, Kean honored her with the title of Professor Emeritus, a distinction for faculty who make extraordinary contributions to their fields.

“My mother was a trailblazer, and an example of what women can do when they set their minds to it,” Valerie said. Throughout her career, my mother had a significant impact on hundreds of students, and it is only fitting that her legacy should live on at Kean University.”

Beyond her academic achievements, Dr. Norma Leeds enjoyed a range of passions, including gardening, bridge and the culinary arts.

Her husband, Dr. Morton W. Leeds, a fellow chemist with over 30 patents in the pharmaceutical industry, shared her devotion to education and taught as an adjunct chemistry professor at Kean in the 1970s. Their shared commitment to science and education spanned over 66 years of marriage until Morton’s passing in 2011.

“Education was of the utmost importance to both of my parents, and I believe it is my responsibility to honor their legacies through gifts in my estate,” Valerie said. “This scholarship will ensure that my mother’s dedication to higher education and her passion for science will never be forgotten. It is my hope that this scholarship serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring scientists.”

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