The Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering (CBEE) at UMBC mourns the passing of Dr. António (Tony) Moreira. Tony was a former CBEE Department Chair and long-serving Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, as well as a mentor, colleague, and friend. He passed away on May 21 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. His death represents a profound loss for CBEE and UMBC, institutions he loved and dutifully served for over three decades.
From his arrival at UMBC in 1990 as a professor and chair of the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Program to his leadership as vice provost since 1997, Dr. Moreira's brilliance, integrity, and devotion to academic excellence permeated every aspect of his work. His profound impact resonates across the campus landscape he helped thoughtfully shape through the various roles he held. Prior to UMBC, Dr. Moreira's trailblazing career included faculty positions at Colorado State University and a decade-long leadership role in biotechnology development at Merck, where he spearheaded bringing alpha interferon to market.
Through all these experiences, empowering the next generation remained one of Dr. Moreira's core driving principles. As an educator, he maintained an active role teaching and mentoring graduate students in chemical engineering throughout his administrative tenure. He played a major role in promoting UMBC's international reputation, spearheading research and scholarly collaboration with the University of Porto and the country of Portugal. And he was honored by the president of Portugal with the National Order of Public Education and awarded the title of Comendador.
Behind his many accomplishments and accolades, we knew Tony as a man defined by humility, kindness, and an unwavering compassion for student success. Dr. Moreira's caring spirit left an indelible imprint on all who knew him. As UMBC mourns this devastating loss, CBEE and the entire university community celebrate his enduring legacy.