Experience Summary
As the child of teachers, I learned the value of a good education early in life. With my parents' guidance and encouragement, I obtained both a BS and a PhD in Chemistry (which included a Study-Abroad stint in the Netherlands). Following my time in Europe, I pursued a 25-year industrial chemistry career that was centered on the automotive, specialty chemical and building material industries. Additional activity in overseas technical transfers and global business has enhanced my communications skills (e.g., university-level funding proposal preparation). Over the past four years, my passion for education has led me to teach and tutor community college students in mathematics, chemistry and other physical sciences. My broad experience has allowed me to relate well to students as I am able to offer illustrative examples from industry to aid the learning process.
Teaching Style
My teaching style is participatory. I like to ask questions of the student and have them verbalize what they know. This gives me the opportunity to identify possible gaps in their knowledge and to fill in those gaps. I also try to relate covered material to historical events. For instance, when talking about the importance of analytical chemistry, I like to talk about the Marsh test which was developed in the 1830’s as a definitive reaction for arsenic poisoning. In like manner, I like to relate covered material to the personal experiences of the student. Illustrative examples that I have used are the importance of distillation to the alcoholic beverage and petroleum industries, along with how companies like McDonald’s would employ chemists skilled in flavors and fragrances (i.e., flavorists). All in all, I try to make science and mathematics fun and stimulating, as well as informative.