CST Chemistry Updates 2018

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College of Science and Technology

CHEMISTRY UPDATE 2018

Chair’s message Late last year, a committee composed of four eminent scholars reviewed the Department of Chemistry. In preparing for the review, the department produced an extensive self-study report. The document underscored the department’s success in enhancing its core mission: The development and maintenance of a worldrenowned educational and research presence in the chemical sciences. The success in both these areas was reflected in the positive external review. First, the department’s faculty exhibits impressive gender diversity, with the percentage of tenure-track female professors exceeding that of our highly ranked peer institutions nationwide. Second, both the department’s scholarly output and grant funding have more than doubled during the past 10 years. Not surprisingly, these increases have occurred concomitantly with the hiring of stellar faculty, including newly arrived biochemist Carol Manhart, and a doubling of our outstanding graduate student population in the past decade. Finally, the development of new courses, the introduction of new teaching methodologies and further enhancements to research-based courses have led to an ever-improving educational environment for our talented undergraduate students. While we are proud of our accomplishments, there is an intense desire by everyone in the department to further add to our list of achievements. I am excited about the prospect of sharing with you some of these still unrealized accomplishments in future newsletters. Daniel R. Strongin Chair

chem.cst.temple.edu

Chemistry faculty a national leader in gender diversity

Chemistry faculty (clockwise from l to r): Professor Ann Valentine; Associate Professor Kallie Willets; Assistant Professor Carol Manhart; Assistant Professor Sarah Wengryniuk; Professor Stephanie Wunder; and Professor Spiridoula Matsika

With the arrival of Assistant Professor Carol Manhart, seven of the department’s 24 tenure-track faculty, or 29 percent, will be women. That’s a significant increase from just 11 percent in 2003—and one of the highest, if not the highest, female percentage at any Research 1 university in the country. The national average is 19 percent. “It’s something to be proud of, and it didn’t result from a special university or department initiative,” says Ann Valentine, the department’s vice chair. “It just happened with department and college support, through hiring the best people.” The department now has female faculty at every stage of their careers and in every area: organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry and biochemistry. “It totally normalizes the business of being a woman in chemistry, which is all you want,” adds Valentine. “It’s unremarkable, which is remarkable.” “It’s not something you see at other chemistry departments,” adds Manhart. “It’s nice to have other women as mentors and as models for developing your own career.” Two of the original seven members of the department—F. Elizabeth Rumrill, hired in 1927, and Hazel Tomlinson, hired in 1928—were women. The next female faculty hired, however, were Professor Stephanie Wunder in 1985 and Professor Susan Varnum in 1987. Both are currently the longest serving chemistry professors in the department “It’s just more normal now,” agrees Wunder. “You’re treated more as a colleague and it’s just easier to interact about the science.” With 51 percent of undergraduate majors and a third of PhD students now female, the faculty’s gender diversity also has had a positive influence on students, both male and female. Of the latter, says Wunder, “I think it does make a big difference if you are a female student and you see a woman who is successful and interested in the same things that you are and you then see a path for yourself.”


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