Giving
Donations to LAS
Gifts in Action: Mark A. Pytosh, B.S. '86, Chemistry
By rewarding talented students with scholarships, Mark Pytosh is helping the Department of Chemistry to continue to attract the brightest young scholors.
The Right Chemistry for Wall Street
How does a background in chemistry translate to a position on Wall Street? There certainly aren't many similarities between the two subjects, the work environments, or the skills needed to perform the work. But for Mark Pytosh, the managing director and head of the global industrial group at Lehman Brothers in New York, the study of chemistry has provided something very valuable that he uses everyday in business.
"The field of chemistry is very challenging," says Pytosh. "Intellectually, it pushed me very hard and taught me how to think analytically. Those skills of analytical thinking are ones I certainly use in the business environment."
It's an environment he's been a part of since graduating from the U of I in 1986 with his chemistry degree. A native of Kankakee, Illinois, Pytosh began with pre-med aspirations but, along the way, completed coursework in economics, accounting, finance, and statistics. This interest, combined with encouragement from Professor David Paisley, led him to explore working on Wall Street.
His success in business and his loyalty to the Department of Chemistry prompted Pytosh to establish a fund to assist talented students. The first awards were merit scholarships for undergraduates, and currently the Pytosh Chemistry Fund provides fellowships to graduate students and supports the activities of the Chemistry Learning Center.
"The overall education at the U of I is excellent, and chemistry, in particular, is a high-quality department," says Pytosh. "I was fortunate to have several mentors who were there for me as an undergraduate. This, plus the intellectual challenge, helped make my experience a very rewarding one. Through this fund, I hope to reward the dedication of today's chemistry students and assist them in meeting their goals."
Impacting Other's Lives
Erin Van Brussel is a dedicated student of chemistry who looks forward to becoming a surgeon or emergency room physician. Her work and commitment inside and outside the classroom have been instrumental in her success. And Mark Pytosh's generosity has played a role too.
"The Mark Pytosh scholarship was an extremely motivational honor that rewards hard work and dedication. It has inspired me to not only pursue chemistry as a foundation for medical school but also to research and teach in the chemistry department. The financial support allowed me to participate in summer research with Professor Eric Oldfield. I am still a member of this same research group, investigating treatments for parasitic diseases. This experience in the lab, as well as my work with Dr. Steven Zumdahl as a teaching assistant in the department, has increased my love of chemistry."