Associate Professor
University of Iowa
R1 Research Institution
I am an associate professor at the University of Iowa. I received my BS in chemistry from South Dakota State University, and my PhD at Purdue University under Prof Marcy Towns. My postdoctoral research experience was with Melanie Cooper at Michigan State University. My research at the University of Iowa focuses on how undergraduate chemistry students engage in scientific practices, such as using models to predict and explain chemical behavior.
In my past service to the division, I have served as a member of the International Activities Committee (2014 – present). There, I have worked with the committee to broaden ACS participation internationally and share resources with international members that supporting teaching and learning related to chemical education. Key activities have been related to providing travel support for US ACS members to travel abroad, and for international ACS members to attend ACS meetings to share their experiences with the community.
Locally, I have served as a treasurer of our local ACS section. In this capacity, I have been able to advocate for activities that broaden participation of undergraduate and graduate students in ACS activities. This includes, for instance, supporting scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students to attend ACS conferences, and supporting local Younger Chemists Committee (YCC) chapter activities. I have also been able to help coordinate local chapter support of regional meetings, such as the Midwest Regional Meeting held at the University of Iowa in Fall 2022.
If elected as Councilor, I would look forward to serving as a bridge between local community needs and national level policy and practices via the Division of Chemical Education Executive Committee.