{"id":28280,"date":"2022-01-31T08:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-31T13:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=18284"},"modified":"2024-04-10T16:14:01","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T20:14:01","slug":"after-graduating-jason-rochette-07-follows-his-love-for-polymer-chemistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2022\/01\/after-graduating-jason-rochette-07-follows-his-love-for-polymer-chemistry\/","title":{"rendered":"After Graduating, Jason Rochette ’07 Follows His Love for Polymer Chemistry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

By Kamilah Heslop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Degrees<\/strong>
B.S. Polymer and Color Chemistry<\/a>, 2007
B.S. Chemistry, 2007<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job Title
<\/strong>Growth Process Steward – CTO Strategic Support
Eastman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current City
<\/strong>Knoxville, Tennessee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hometown
<\/strong>Greensboro, NC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the sounds of it, Jason Rochette \u201907<\/strong> is the epitome of a Wilson College of Textiles graduate who loves his alma mater. He took full advantage of his time on campus by attending a Summer Textile Exploration Program (STEP) camp, being named a Centennial Scholar, joining the Phi Psi Textile Fraternity and attending many Wolfpack sporting events \u2014 and cheering loudly during each win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduating with dual bachelor’s degrees in polymer and color chemistry<\/a> and chemistry, he continued to explore his passion for chemistry by earning a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill. From there, he leveraged his internship experiences \u2014 along with the training and skills from his undergraduate and graduate studies \u2014 into positions as a scientist for global chemical and coatings companies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, he is the growth process steward at Eastman and calls Knoxville, Tennessee home. He lives there with his wife, three-year-old son and 14-month-old daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q&A with Jason Rochette ’07<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why did you choose NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The summer after my junior year of high school, I attended the Summer Textile Exploration Program (STEP)<\/a> and worked with Professor Richard Kotek<\/a>. This opened my eyes to the possibility of future study and a career in polymer chemistry. The potential seemed unlimited. It was also my first look into the culture of the Wilson College of Textiles, which had a small-college feel with the benefits of the larger university.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What activities were you involved in as an NC State student and how did they impact your experience?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was lucky enough to be awarded the Centennial Scholarship<\/a>, which meant I joined a great group of Centennial classes before and after me. I was a member of Sigma Tau Sigma<\/a> and held leadership positions within Phi Psi National Textile Fraternity<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your fondest memory of being at NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always enjoyed camping and beach trips with Phi Psi. I also spent a month in Europe with fellow Centennial Scholar Nick Kain. We traveled from city to city and explored how textiles impacted different countries, ages and industries across Europe. And, I can still remember the winter of my freshman year running up to the Bell Tower in a sea of red and white after the Wolfpack upset Duke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n