Alumni Spotlight

Westminster Alum Keith Hearon '05  Named National Academy of Inventors Fellow, Honored for Transformative Contributions to Science and Innovation
(Sources: Forbes, Boston Globe, GlobeNewswire, Google Cloud News, Wiley, ReFED Insights, Demand Solutions Miami)

AUGUSTA, Ga. — On Dec. 10, the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) announced Westminster ‘05 alumnus Dr. Keith Hearon’s election to the 2024 class of NAI Fellows. The honor, one of the most prestigious accolades for inventors, recognizes his exceptional contributions to scientific innovation, economic development and societal welfare.

Dr. Hearon, a repeat startup founder with two successful exits, is currently CEO of his third company, Augusta-based Nuceptive Labs.  He has garnered international recognition for his groundbreaking work in materials chemistry. A former postdoctoral fellow in Moderna co-founder Professor Robert Langer’s esteemed lab at MIT until 2016, Dr. Hearon has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers and patents. Since then, he has founded and sold an aerospace 3D printing company and a medical diagnostics company.  He is also currently an investor and board member of Keylicon Biosciences (immunotherapy drugs) and Imidex (AI lung cancer diagnostics).

“I’m very proud of what a terrific entrepreneur Nuceptive CEO Keith Hearon has become,” said Robert Langer, Co-Founder of Moderna and MIT Institute Professor, who is one of Keith’s NAI Fellows nominators.  Prof. Langer is in the National Academies of Science, Medicine, Engineering and Inventors.

"I've worked with Keith on 4 companies now," said Mark Grinstaff, a Warren Distinguished Professor at Boston University and Keith’s other NAI nominator.  “Dr. Hearon commands excellence as a CEO and also in his specific trade of polymer network chemistry."

“I’m extremely grateful to Mark and Bob for nominating me for this very meaningful NAI Fellows honor,” added Dr. Hearon.  “I also want to thank my Ph.D. thesis committee members, collaborators, mentors and financial backers who have inspired me to drive societal impact through science and entrepreneurship. Most importantly, I am grateful for my family and faith.  This has been a challenging road, and things will only get harder as the stakes become higher.”

Beyond his scientific achievements, Dr. Hearon is deeply committed to his Augusta roots. A Westminster graduate who attended the school from kindergarten through 12th grade, he credits his Westminster education and the dedication of his teachers for instilling the values and discipline that have propelled him to success.

“Westminster gave me the foundation I needed—academically, spiritually, and motivationally—to lead boldly in my career and my community,” Dr. Hearon said.  “I dedicated my Ph.D. dissertation in 2014 to my parents, to the faculty at Westminster and to the intangible concept of ‘refinement through failure and pursuit of perfection’.  I’m not always good at things, but I am willing to admit when I’m wrong and try to do better.”

Bringing his family back to Augusta from Boston in 2021, Dr. Hearon is committed to giving his children the same Westminster experience that shaped his own life. He’s equally passionate about driving local economic development through scientific research and entrepreneurship. Augusta, already home to a growing medical and dental school, an emerging research university, a burgeoning cyber center, a key U.S. military base, a nuclear power facility and, of course, the Masters Tournament, is now also poised to be a hub of innovation, thanks in part to Dr. Hearon’s work.

Among his many projects, Dr. Hearon has demonstrated ingenuity in tackling corporate sustainability challenges. Recognizing the waste produced by Chick-fil-A in the form of citrus peels and Styrofoam cups, he developed a pioneering process to repurpose these materials into something both valuable and environmentally friendly. This type of forward-thinking innovation exemplifies Dr. Hearon’s ability to merge technical expertise with a commitment to stewardship and societal benefit.

Keith Hearon’s achievements highlight the essence of Westminster’s mission of excellence in all things. With a strong aspiration to faith and a visionary approach to science and business, Dr. Hearon is not only an inspiration to the Westminster community but also a catalyst for change on a global scale.

As Augusta continues to grow in prominence, leaders like Dr. Hearon are positioning the city as a powerhouse of innovation and economic opportunity. For Westminster Wildcats past, present, and future, his story serves as a testament to the extraordinary impact of a life lived with purpose and bold leadership. For those with bold minds and bold faith like Dr. Hearon, there is clearly a bold future that awaits - this is just the beginning!

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