The University of Kansas plans to use a $1 million gift to establish a new chemical engineering research laboratory.

Richard and Elizabeth Hoover, of Northport Michigan, both graduated from the university in 1971.   They now live in Northport, Michigan.

Richard Hoover said in a news release that he hopes the lab will give students more hands-on research experience so they will be better prepared for the job market.

Richard Hoover worked in several positions for Dow Corning, including as CEO of Dow Corning Asia in Tokyo for six years.

His wife worked for the pharmaceutical company Hoffman-La Roche in New York as an analytical chemist until they started their family.