School of Business announces 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Business will honor Jeff Gentry with its Distinguished Alumni Award this spring.

Gentry will receive the award for his dedication to business excellence, community service and commitment to KU on April 21 during a private reception.

He is the chairman and CEO of INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers. INVISTA is an independently managed subsidiary of Koch Industries Inc., one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. Gentry also serves on Koch Industries’ board of directors.

Gentry graduated from KU in 1983 with his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has served as chairman of INVISTA’s board of directors since January 2006 and was named CEO in May 2007. Previously Gentry was president of the Koch Mineral Services group of companies and executive vice president and board member of Koch Industries Inc.

Gentry also is a member of the KU School of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, serving as chair from 2017 to 2020. He has been a member of the KU Endowment Board of Trustees since 2011.

The School of Business established the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998 to honor outstanding graduates. To date, 65 alumni have been recognized with the award. Previous recipients include businessman and investor David Booth, entrepreneur Tim Barton, recent Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president and CEO Rob Kaplan and Cerner Corp. co-founder Cliff Illig.

Award recipients are chosen from the nominations of other alumni and the Dean’s Advisory Board. Candidates are selected on the basis of their business success and service to their communities and to KU.