Muir, Mariel Rae (Meents) (11/18/1939–09/27/1996). Mariel Meents of Colorado Springs, Colorado received a B.A. degree in Chemistry with Honors from Grinnell in 1961. She had an excellent academic record: member of the freshmen and senior women’s honorary societies (Tassels and Mortar Board respectively), Phi Beta Kappa (1961) and the national chemistry honor society (Iota Sigma Pi). She was active in the Band and the Board of Religion.
Mariel earned a Ph. D. degree in Chemistry from Northwestern University in 1965. While there, she met and married a fellow graduate student, James A. Muir, in 1962, and they had two daughters, Molly and Martha.
She taught chemistry for a year at the University of Illinois (Chicago Circle). In 1966 she and her family moved to the University of Puerto Rico, where she became a Professor of Chemistry and Department Chairman while her husband became a Professor of Physics and Director of the Computer Center. Mariel conducted chemical research and published over 30 papers in the field, while mentoring 15 students for their Ph.D. degrees. Some of her research was done in 1973-74 as a Senior Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University.
When she reached early retirement age in 1992, Mariel and her family moved to Texas State University-San Marcos. She was Dean of Science there until her sudden death in 1996. Three years later the University established the Mariel M. Muir Excellence in Mentoring Award to recognize her commitment to the growth and development of those around her by annually honoring one faculty member and one staff member for exceptional commitment to assisting others to become more proficient in their professional activities and educational pursuits. (Texas State University at San Marcos, The Mariel M. Muir Excellence in Mentoring Awards, http://www.liberalarts.txstate.edu/about/news/cla-news2007-2008/muiraward08.html.)
