Newark, April 17- William H. Powell, of Hopewell, chairman and chief executive officer of the National Starch and Chemical Co., was recently appointed to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Board of Overseers.

The NJIT Board of Overseers is composed of senior executives, CEO's and entrepreneurs. Members of the NJIT Board of Overseers provide a broad range of advocacy for and support to NJIT, both corporate and personal. Beyond creating a connection between the university and the corporation, some overseers have demonstrated their personal commitment by creating scholarships to honor loved ones.These businessmen and women also serve as professional advisors, supplying expertise in a multitude of areas including marketing and strategic planning.

Powell, who received both a bachelor's and a master's degree from Case Western University, as well as a master's from the University of North Carolina, joined National starch in 1976. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command.

He spent his early years at National Starch working in manufacturing, planning and management. Then, in 1981, he became Divisional Vice President of the Advanced Chemical Technology Division. Eight years later he joined the company's board of directors, as a Vice President. In 1997, he was named Executive Vice President of the Industrial Starch and Food Products Division, and two years later he assumed the firm's top post -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In January, he was also appointed to the Board of Directors of Imperial Chemical Industries Group, the British corporation that runs National Starch.

Powell is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, The Institute of Food Technologists and the Corn Refiners Association. He also sits on the board of directors for the State Theater of New Jersey.

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