Dr. Robert G. Kaley

Delta Delta 1968

Election Date: 2019

Robert Kaley is the former director of environmental affairs for Monsanto in St. Louis. In that role – and as a nationally recognized expert in the manufacture, use and toxicology of certain industrial chemicals – Dr. Kaley assumed the responsibility of interfacing with other manufacturing companies, nongovernmental organizations and the government to create workable regulations.

Before assuming the director role, Robert was a research chemist, during which time he published numerous proprietary analytical methods and several peer-reviewed papers.  He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Chemical Society, among others.

Bob Kaley graduated from Purdue in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry with Distinction.  He earned a Master’s Degree in 1971 and a Ph.D. in 1974 in Analytical Chemistry, both from the University of Illinois prior to joining the research division of the Monsanto Chemical Company.

Ground Breaking Work
Brother Kaley is widely recognized as an authority on the widely publicized family of environmental chemicals known as PCBs.  Much of his early work involved developing increasingly advanced analytical methodology for measurement of those and other chemicals at decreasingly low levels, helping to improve environmental safety standards.

Bob’s, in many cases ground-breaking, work has resulted in the development of improved chemical manufacturing processes and chemical regulations.  These affect both the industry and society in general helping to mitigate critical environmental concerns as our country faces its many environmental safety challenges. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Chemical Society; International Society for Environmental Forensics; International Society for Environmental Epidemiology; and the Society for Risk Analysis.

Community and Charitable Involvement
Every year Bob and his wife, Julie, host a “shrimp boil” paid for and prepared by the two of them for the one hundred or so counselors of Camp Rainbow, a charity benefitting children with cancer and blood disorders in St. Louis.  Brother Kaley has been involved in many St. Louis area charitable organizations and has given financial support to the Missouri Botanical Gardens (St. Louis); the St. Louis Zoo, Marlin Perkins Society; St. Louis Crisis Nursery; and the St. Louis Art Museum.

Honors
Bob Kaley received the professional honor of being selected Chairman of the PCB Chemstar Panel, American Chemistry Council, Arlington, VA, where he served from 1995 to 2006.