Frank Wood ’62 majored in chemical engineering and was one of three Black students on campus during his entire tenure at Bucknell. Today, Frank lives in Westport, Connecticut, where he continues to work and stay active.
Q: Can you share a little about your career highlights?
A: I was a Union Carbide Scholar with a full scholarship sponsored by the company. In the summer 1960, I worked in Africa in an organization that was a predecessor of the Peace Corps. In addition to my chemical engineering degree, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army while at Bucknell. One year following graduation, I married my wife, Priscilla.
I was honorably discharged from the Army as a Captain two weeks before being deployed to South Vietnam. I was hired by Union Carbide and joined their engineering team in Bound Brook, New Jersey. During that time, I was able to earn my MBA at Rutgers.
My role at Union Carbide offered extensive international experience with trailblazer roles setting up new businesses and securing business deals around Africa, Asia and Latin America, while living in Nigeria and Pakistan. I also worked in Hong Kong.
Upon returning to the United States, my family settled in Westport, Connecticut, with the option of me working in New York City, and that’s what happened.
Q: Why did you choose to attend Bucknell?
A: Both of my parents were college graduates who were very familiar with Syracuse University since we were from that area. I wanted to get away from home and avoid the cold climate around the New York engineering schools like Rensselaer and Clarkson. Those schools were also too focused on engineering majors, rather than having a diversified student body like Bucknell. I also loved the aesthetic of the Bucknell campus, which was so beautiful.
Q: Were there any classes, professors or experiences at Bucknell that had a big impact on you?
A: I was elected President of my fraternity, Phi Lambda Theta, at Bucknell, and this leadership experience was pivotal for me. The fraternity has since become part of Chi Phi, and I remain active on the Chi Phi Board of Directors. I was also a member of the Bucknell swimming team and still make it back to campus for events, most recently in January 2026.
Q: What was one of your most meaningful experiences as a student?
A: Being part of Phi Lambda Theta, which was one of the few fraternities open to all students in the late 1940s to the early 1960s, and having the experience of taking on leadership roles. I did leave Bucknell for a semester my sophomore year as part of the Bucknell-Howard exchange program to try out the HBCU experience, but quickly decided Bucknell was the right choice for me and returned.
Q: How did going to Bucknell prepare you for your professional career?
A: I developed time management skills very quickly by balancing engineering classes every day at 8 a.m., swimming practice, ROTC and fraternity life. Even with this busy schedule, I reserved time for one date each week, recognizing the importance of taking a break and planning ahead.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about the work you do now?
A: I’m turning 87 next month, but I continue to work with a marketing company, ACN, focused on growing its utilities and health care services business. I’ve also turned my photography hobby into a profession with ties to the fashion industry. Getting to work with a broad range of people and making a difference energizes me. I also play tennis, ping pong and jog outdoors regularly.
Q: What advice do you have for current Bucknell Engineering students?
A: Perseverance is key! Keep driving toward your goals. Do the things you want to do. Move on if something doesn’t work out.
Q: How/why do you continue to stay engaged with Bucknell?
A: I am mainly connected with the Chi Phi fraternity, the Bucknell swimming & diving program and the Bucknell Black Alumni Association, but I look forward to reconnecting with the College of Engineering.