Barbara Kuckhoff

Barbara Kuckhoff is a long-time friend of RIT and a high school STEM educator with +40 years of professional chemistry industry experience. At world class chemical companies, Barbara progressed from co-op engineering student to process design engineer before making the leap to commercial management. With experience in sales, marketing and product management Barbara headed a global supply chain team that improved material sourcing with integrated ERP systems. In 2002 Barbara and her husband Eric Kuckhoff (M.S. 84) formed PolyStar,LLC, building it into a leading manufacturer of specialty additives for the coatings and adhesives industry.

After selling PolyStar, Barbara followed her interest in science and education and joined Darlington School. In her classroom she crafts active learning experiences for 9th-12th grade students in physics, chemistry, and introductory engineering. She was awarded the Georgia Star Teacher award in 2022 for her ability to connect with and motivate her students. With her fellow teaching geeks at the American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA), the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the College Board AP readers, she enjoys learning and advancing science pedagogy.

Barbara received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.