About Me


As an Ohio native, I found my way to the South leaving me accentless but a lover of sweet tea. I spent my teenage years in Florida where the humidity is overbearing and the rain operates around a predictable schedule. After college, I made my way to Mississippi where I have been ever since.

It is quite lovely here.




My Inspiration


I like Halloween

Found my twin in Taylor Fultz! (2020)

Figure 1: Found my twin in Taylor Fultz! (2020)

Dr. Whitnee Nettles is Hattie, the Swamp Witch. (2020).

Figure 2: Dr. Whitnee Nettles is Hattie, the Swamp Witch. (2020).

Swamp Witch - Jim Stafford - 1974


I like teaching

I have been teaching large sections of Chemistry I and II and a variety of other classes since 2014. I have taught, on average, 394 students per semester (cumulative total of 5117 students) not including summer terms.

Courses Taught:

  • CH-1213 – Chemistry I
  • CH-1223 – Chemistry II
  • CH-1141 – Prof. Chem: Paths
  • CH-2141 – Prof. Chem: Tools
  • CH-3141 – Prof. Chem: Literature
  • CH-4711 – Senior Seminar
  • CH-8990 – Prof. Chem: Current Problems (computational chemistry support)

Teaching Evaluation Summary

Below are the averages, by category, of 13 semesters (Fall 2014 – Fall 2020) of student evaluations in Chemistry I and II.

Legend for Plot
  • Global = Global Index
  • Expectations = Instructor created high expectations for the class
  • Effectiveness = Instructor conveyed the course content in an effective manner
  • Interesting = Instructor made class interesting
  • Enthusiasm = Instructor was enthusiastic about the course
  • Accessibility = Instructor was accessible outside of class time to respond to my questions or concerns
  • Learning = I learned a great deal in this class
  • Presentation = Presentation of course content helped me learn in this class
  • Exam Fairness = Tests were fair
  • Exam Reflection = Tests reflected material presented in lecture and/or assigned reading
  • Grading Time = Tests and/or assignments were graded within a reasonable period of time
  • Recommended = I would recommend this instructor to other students


Study session in the library before the exam (S'2017).

Figure 3: Study session in the library before the exam (S’2017).

Getting hyped right before passing out the final exam (S'2017).

Figure 4: Getting hyped right before passing out the final exam (S’2017).

A student shows off his new haircut (S'2020).

Figure 5: A student shows off his new haircut (S’2020).

The 'Chemistry II' is OVER party (S'2020) [Photo Credit: mdawg9 - Twitch Moderator and PI of the mdawg9 Theory of Relativity].

Figure 6: The ‘Chemistry II’ is OVER party (S’2020) [Photo Credit: mdawg9 - Twitch Moderator and PI of the mdawg9 Theory of Relativity].

I have learned a lot from my students.


I like research

I was introduced to the world of computational chemistry as a sophomore undergraduate student in 2006 when I applied for a summer research job to help pay the bills. Prof. Robert A Vergenz was my mentor and he guided me into my first project, mapping out a reaction mechanism for a simple amino acid condensation reaction. In graduate school, Prof. Gregory S. Tschumper introduced convergent quantum chemistry to me and sophisticated methodologies. When I was a post-doc, Prof. C. Edwin Webster exposed me to a wide range of applications including NMR chemical shift modeling, organometallic chemistry, excited-state characterizations, and more.

I am very grateful to each of these incredible people.


I like SMACS

Be sure to check out the new SMACS website!

SMACS is the “Student Members of the American Chemical Society”, a professional organization for undergraduates interested in chemistry. I have been the faculty advisor to the Mississippi State SMACS chapter since 2016. We have managed to do a lot of great things with a lot of help from others.

It has been a lot of fun.

SMACS winning a 2018 ACS ChemLuminary in San Diego, CA for "Best National Chemistry Week Event Organized By a Student Group"

Figure 7: SMACS winning a 2018 ACS ChemLuminary in San Diego, CA for “Best National Chemistry Week Event Organized By a Student Group”

Our reaction to hearing Mississippi State being announced as a recipient of an ACS ChemLuminary award

Figure 8: Our reaction to hearing Mississippi State being announced as a recipient of an ACS ChemLuminary award

Some highlights:

  • First ChemDawg NCW Tailgate Extravaganza – Oct. 2018
  • First ACS ChemLuminary win by the Mississippi State SMACS group – Aug. 2019
  • First ACS Innovative Project Grant (for NCW 2019 Escape Rooms) – Aug. 2019
  • First SMACS-funded annual scholarship for chemistry majors (SMACS Chemistry Annual Excellence Scholarship) – Feb. 2020


SMACS NCW Videos

2018


2019


I like MSU Esports

I recently (Fall 2020) became one of the faculty advisors to the MSU Esports group. Be sure to check out their widespread, online presence.



My Inspiration

Putting life into perspective