Dr. Jack DeRuiter was born in Holland, Michigan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biology from Hope College in 1976. From 1976-1978 he attended the University of Michigan completing a Master’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry where he worked on the design of novel anti-parasitic quinolone drugs. From there Dr. DeRuiter went to the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond where he earned a PhD in 1981 in the area of neuro-medicinal chemistry. His PhD research involved the design and testing of structurally unique adrenergic receptor probes. In 1981, Dr. DeRuiter accepted a post-doctoral position at the State University of New York at Buffalo where he investigated the design and synthesis of novel potential anti-cancer drugs of the pyrroloquinoline class. In 1983 he joined the faculty at Auburn University’s Harrison College of Pharmacy as an Assistant Professor and member of the Graduate Faculty. He was promoted to Associate professor with tenure in 1988, and to full Professor in 1993. Dr. DeRuiter’s primary responsibilities at Auburn University have been curricular design and development, teaching in the professional and graduate programs, and conducting research. In his 30+ years at Auburn, Dr. DeRuiter has been engaged in a number of research projects, with a major focus on drug design methods in the areas of diabetes, cancer and novel psychoactive agents. His research team has received over 10 million dollars in federal research funding, and he and his colleagues have published over 200 peer-reviewed research articles, 150 professional articles and book chapters, and 20 technical manuals. Dr. DeRuiter and his students also have given more than 150 presentations at scientific meetings across the globe. Dr. DeRuiter was named Hill Crest Endowed Professor in 2019, and Alumni Professor in 2021. He also serves as a medical consultant for several law firms throughout the southeast and as an educational consultant, focusing on curricular design, development, and integration of basic and clinical science content.