Frederick Lawson Hovde (7 February 1908 – 1 March 1983) was an American chemical engineer, researcher, educator and president of Purdue University.

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Hovde received his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, where he played on the football team.

Returning to the United States in 1932, Hovde was appointed assistant director of the newly established General College of the University of Minnesota.

His first assignment was as head of the London Mission of the OSRD, an opportunity which he took to obtain a master's degree from Oxford University.

In 1942, he returned to the National Defense Research Committee as Executive Assistant to James Bryant Conant, its chairman.

Hovde received more than 20 honorary doctoral degrees in a variety of disciplines from colleges and university throughout the United States.

It is given to a member of Purdue University's faculty or staff who has displayed outstanding educational service to rural Indiana.