A Newsletter for Alumni, Students, and Friends of the IUSB Department of Chemistry
Volume 1: 2004-2005
Message From the Chair
Welcome to the first volume of our departmental newsletter “Carbon Copy”! Our plan is to publish this newsletter at the end of each academic year. We hope that you will find the information and features in this newsletter valuable and we invite you to contribute items that would be of interest to our alumni, students, and faculty. As is the case with chemical systems, our department is dynamic and we hope that this newsletter will provide a means for you to keep up with departmental affairs. In fact, we will have some new faces around Northside Hall this coming Fall as both Gerry Huitink and Larry Garber will retire this year. Together, Gerry and Larry have combined for over 70 years of exemplary service to the department and to Associate Professor and IUSB. We will miss their leadership, wisdom, and guidChair Bill Feighery ance. At this time, we are conducting a search for a new analytical chemist. In other faculty news, Gretchen Anderson was recognized with an all-IU teaching excellence award, and Doug McMillen continues to serve the college as assistant dean. We are very grateful to all of our alumni and friends who so generously donate to the department. Without these contributions, we could not fund our scholarships and prizes, or even print and distribute this newsletter. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any information about giving to the department or its scholarship funds. Again, thank you for your generosity and if you are in the area, please do pay us a visit. We would be very happy to show you around and talk about new developments in the department.
Department of Chemistry Northside Hall 1700 Mishawaka Ave South Bend, IN 46634 Web: Phone: Fax: E-mail: www.iusb.edu/~chem 574-520-4278 574-520-5589 wfeigher@iusb.edu
Proposed Biochemistry Major Under Review
Inside this volume: Faculty profile Student profile Alumni profile Student success Clubs Scholarships Awards 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 Students have expressed an interest in a biochemistry major at IUSB. In response, Gretchen Anderson has written a proposal for a Biochemistry Major, and with the support of both the chemistry and biology departments, the proposal has been submitted for review through the Indiana University system. The course requirements for the proposed major reflect a balance of chemistry and biology courses that should position graduates well for advanced studies in various biochemical fields and industry jobs in biotechnology. Requirements will include many electives from existing chemistry and biology courses and allow students to tailor their studies towards their career goals in biochemistry related areas. In addition to general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and general biology, core requirements include physical chemistry, molecular biology and cell biology. The proposal for the biochemistry major has passed all levels of review at IUSB as well as the Academic Leadership Council in the Bloomington. It was presented to the Board of Trustees in October 2005, and subsequently approved. It is now under review by the Indiana Commission of Higher Education. We are cautiously optimistic
that we could have the major in place for the Fall 2006 semester.
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Faculty Profile: Matthew Marmorino
Dr. Matthew Marmorino was hired as a visiting professor in 2002. After the position expired and a national search, Marmorino was hired as a permanent tenure-track faculty starting in Fall 2004, replacing George Nazaroff as our physical chemist. Although Marmorino began his college career with a B.S. in biochemistry in 1995 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, he received a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the same in 1999. He taught physical chemistry in Thailand for two years where he met his wife and then served as a sabbatical replacement at Berea College in Kentucky for a year before coming to IUSB. Marmorino enjoys working at IUSB very much where the combination of teaching and research keeps him invigorated. His favorite subject to teach is thermodynamics, although his research deals with quantum mechanics and he publishes an average of 3 research articles a year on the subject of exactly soluble systems and lower bounds to ei-
Matt Marmorino and his son, Phil
genvalues. In his spare time, Marmorino used to enjoy tennis, swimming, karate, piano, guitar and trumpet. Now he has a son.
Student Profile: Hilda Namanja
interest in science and was attracted by the possibility of combining law and chemistry. Since her stay at IUSB, she has turned more towards chemistry and would ultimately like to return to Malawi to start a drug discovery/manufacturing company with collaboration in the United States. Ms. Namanja has been a star performer her four years at IUSB. One course in particular, analytical chemistry (taught by Professor Geraldine Huitink), stands out in her mind as the course that taught her dedication and perseverance. Aside from performing well herself, Ms. Namanja helped others to succeed by volunteering as a tutor her senior year for the organization “Titans for Tomorrow” and IUSB’s Learning Center. She also served as a supplemental instructor for three semesters in various chemistry courses. Ms. Namanja was accepted to several graduate chemistry programs, but declined and took a job at Underwriter’s Laboratories (formerly Environmental Health Laboratories) to get some practical experience to better direct her into a field of chemistry for later graduate study. Last summer she took a break from her hard work to relax by traveling to see old friends and new places.
Graduating senior Ms. Hilda Namanja won the 2004-2005 Excellence in Chemistry Award. Ms. Namanja wasn’t always interested in chemistry; she began her college career with her sights on criminal justice to serve her countrymen in Malawi as a lawyer. However, Ms. Namanja also has a strong
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Alumni Profile: Art Sears
I am honored to be chosen for your first biographical sketch in the departmental newsletter. I don’t suppose I was much different when I started at IUSB than the majority of your students today. My educational background prior to IUSB was not a stellar one. After graduating from Penn High School in 1967 I went on to Western Michigan University to continue my education and to stay out to the draft. Unfortunately I did not do well and by the end of the third semester I was asked to leave. From there I was accepted to Southwestern Michigan University in Dowagiac, Michigan still trying to stay out of the draft. But, in 1969, I decided to join the 12th Special Forces Reserve unit in South Bend, IN. At the time the Armory was next to the IUSB campus. This was my first look at IUSB. After completing my basic, AIT, and SF training in 1970 I was hired at Miles Laboratories as a lab technician in the Technical Services Department working with enzymes. I found myself married with one child, without a degree, and with little opportunity to advance without that degree. It was during my first year at Miles, one of the other technicians in my laboratory, Roger Van Orsdoll, now Dr. Van Orsdoll (pediatrician), told me about the opportunity offered by Miles Laboratories. The program at Miles allowed reimbursement for the credit hour expense of attending classes at IUSB. What a great opportunity this was for me and for many other Miles employees. I continued to work full time, go to school at IUSB, and serve my country. The time at IUSB was exciting. During the day I was working full time with chemists, biologists, microbiologists and business people at Miles. At night I would go to IUSB and study many of the subjects and techniques I was actually using in my job at Miles. This provided me a lot of practical insight into the subjects assigned by my professors at the time. I owe a lot to them, Drs. Ross, Huitink, Garber, Nazaroff, come to mind immediately as I think back. Frau Beardsley, my German teacher, taught me good study habits. Roger Van Orsdoll advised me to “never get behind in her class”. I never did. Dr. Nazaroff’s influence on me has continued also over the years. He was my Physical Chemistry Professor, the hardest and most abstract course I ever took. Dr. Nazaroff had an open door policy. If you were having trouble “getting it”, he was there to work with you one on one until you “got it”. I really appreciated that and would not have been successful in his class without the added time. I graduated in the spring of 1977, six long years of night school, work and Army Reserves. The good news was college and reserves ended in the same month, May. Miles Laboratories promoted me to a position requiring a degree, Technical Services Representative the previous year, and then to Technical Sales Representative in 1978. As a Technical Sales Representative I was able to put my chemistry and lab experience to work, increasing the sales in my territories. I was gaining a lot of good experience working at Miles but in the back of my mind as long as I can remember, I had a vision of owning and operating my own business. I don’t suppose this is much different than most people. My opportunity came in 1984. Miles had been sold to a German company, Bayer in 1980. Over the next four years from 1980 to 1984 I watched as a stream of Bayer people came over and began to take positions in upper management. No one from the lower management, that is the original Miles employees, seemed to be able to advance in the company. As a field sales rep, I certainly would not have the opportunity since I really had little visibility to the decision makers. On May 16, 1984 I incorporated my company Valley Research, Inc. We have continued to grow over the past 22 years and now employ about 50 people in the US and have offices in France, China, and Argentina. We also have many distributors in other parts of the world. Our business is enzymes. Over the years we have also provided the opportunity for our employees to advance their education by attending IUSB and taking advantage of our reimbursement program. We have hired several graduates and continue to look for more. I will always remain indebted to the people I worked with at Miles, my professors at IUSB and many others who help with our success.
Best regards, Art Sears
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Elements of Success
The Department of Chemistry strives to produce educated graduates who will be productive citizens in an increasingly technological society; our goal is to provide instruction in fundamental principles and laboratory methods of modern chemistry. More broadly, the department seeks to sharpen the powers of observation, to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills, and to improve the written and oral communication skills of our students. A chemistry major could chose to use his or her degree as an industrial chemist, to enter graduate school in chemistry or a related field, or to enter a professional school.
Student Scholarships and Awards
2005-2006 Nazaroff Scholarship: 2005 Ross Seminar Prize 2005 Excellence in Chemistry 2005 Analytical Award 2005 CRC Freshman Award Cynthia Muthusi Matt Hertel Hilda Namanja Cynthia Muthusi David Alexander Adam Butcher Andrew Peregrine
Faculty Awards
2005 Herman Frederic Lieber Memorial Award (All–IU Teaching award) 2005 Trustees Teaching Award Gretchen Anderson
Gretchen Anderson Gerry Huitink Doug McMillen
Student Success
Deans List (Spring 2005)
Keri Hershberger Cynthia Muthusi Jennie Polk Shannon Renfrow Brittany Smith Emily Spalding
Biology/Chemistry Club
The Biology/Chemistry Club exists to cultivate student interest in the fields of biology and chemistry, as well as provide social outlets and other events, both informative and educational. The 2004-2005 academic year proved to be eventful, providing many opportunities for club members. The BCC hosted Robert Stump, director of admissions for IU School of Medicine, who gave his advice on the med school application process. In addition, club members participated in the annual Mole Day party, which was held on October 23rd at 6:02, of course. A trip to Chicago to visit the Museum of Science and Industry and the annual Biology vs. Chemistry Bowling Event rounded out the year. The BCC looks forward to another great year in the 2005-2006 school year. President: Vice-President: Secretary: Treasurer: Shannon Renfrow (srenfrow@iusb.edu) Keri Hershberger (klhersh@iusb.edu) Angel Uzunoff (auzunoff@indiana.edu) Patrick Daly (pajdaly@indiana.edu)
Graduates (Spring 2005)
Scott Andrews Matt Hertel Tim Kustron Hilda Namanja Brian Reed