I was born and raised in Burlington, Vermont and have lived in Rhode Island since I was 16.  I received my advanced degrees in Biological Science and Food Science and Technology from the University of Rhode Island.  I joined Wheaton College in 2008, after 30 years with the R.I Health Laboratories, where I supervised the Food Chemistry Lab.

Degrees

Ph.D., Univ. of Rhode Island, Biological Science, 1996
M.S., Univ. of Rhode Island, Food Science and Technology, 1984
B.S., Univ. of Rhode Island, 1978

Main Interests

Instruction, training and supervision of students on chemistry lab experiment theory and procedures.

Research Interests

The majority of my past research involved method development for the chemical assessment of seafood quality, supplemented with in-depth statistical analysis of the data. Other research topics included shellfish sample preparation using optimized microwave digestion, heavy metals analysis of shellfish using atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy, vitamin A and D content in milk by HPLC, and enzymatic analysis of specific components in food products. More recently at the R.I. Health Lab, I've worked with the FDA in conjunction with the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) to put methods for the detection of various toxins on-line.  I have authored and presented laboratory experimental research at professional analytical chemistry meetings, and my technical background includes environmental research, wet chemistry and instrumentation, including AA, LC, ICP-MS and GC-MS.

Teaching Interests

I enjoy teaching general, organic and analytical chemistry labs. I like to relate the individual lab exercises with my past laboratory experiences so students can connect what they learn to real-world analytical situations. It's particularly rewarding to integrate methods I've used in the Health Dept. lab into the students' curriculum.

Other Interests

I enjoy playing golf, baseball and tennis, as well as biking, running and hiking.