Alumni
CJ Hall ’23 Honored with 2026 Make Muskingum Home Award
Muskingum University proudly celebrates Charles “CJ” Hall ’23, Laboratory Manager for the Chemistry Department, who has been named a 2026 Make Muskingum Home awardee. Through this prestigious recognition, CJ will receive $32,385 in student loan relief in acknowledgment of his contributions to STEM education and the Muskingum County community.
The Make Muskingum Home program—established in 2022 and supported by the Muskingum County Community Foundation (MCCF) in partnership with The J.W. & M.H. Straker Foundation—provides up to $50,000 over five years to recent graduates who choose to live and work in Muskingum County. Recipients must demonstrate community commitment, work for an employer with a significant local presence, and meet graduation and residency criteria.
CJ grew up in Muskingum County and graduated from Maysville High School before earning dual degrees in Chemistry and Molecular Biology from Muskingum University in 2023. During his undergraduate years, he distinguished himself through academic excellence, receiving both the William J. Wallace Award for outstanding Senior Chemistry Major and the Columbus Section of the American Chemical Society Award.
As Laboratory Manager, CJ has quickly become an indispensable member of the department. His responsibilities include preparing chemicals and lab setups, overseeing waste management, maintaining safety inspections, and managing chemical inventory and ordering. Beyond these duties, he plays a vital role in training and supervising student workers, ensuring students benefit from high-quality, handson laboratory experiences.
CJ’s expertise has also supported the work of new faculty members, assisting with instrumentation, laboratory equipment, and the development of new experimental curriculum in both Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. His contributions extend to department operations, where he participates in meetings and helps maintain safe, wellfunctioning laboratories.
In her letter of recommendation to the award committee, Dr. Lois Anne Zook, Professor of Chemistry, praised CJ as “the most qualified laboratory manager we could have ever hoped for,” emphasizing his dedication, talent, and deep commitment to Muskingum County. She highlighted his essential role in supporting undergraduate STEM education and commended the Make Muskingum Home program for helping retain skilled professionals like CJ in the community.
Muskingum University congratulates CJ on this welldeserved recognition and celebrates his ongoing impact on students, faculty, and the broader Muskingum County community.
