I was born February 05, 1966 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. I attended primary and Secondary school in Oak Creek Wisconsin, graduating in 1984. I began my undergraduate education as a chemical engineering major but eventually switched to education when I realized that I really enjoyed teaching. I graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry and Physics Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988 and took my first job teaching physics and drafting at Marmion Military Academy in Aurora Illinois. After two years at Marmion a position opened up at my old high school so I moved back to Wisconsin and began teaching chemistry and physical science. I also got married ( 1991 ) to my lovely wife Sheila, a medical technologist who is now employed at Strong Memorial Hospital. After a few years of teaching, I realized that I missed learning new chemistry and looked into pursuing an advanced degree in chemistry. With the support and blessing of my wife I returned to school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) where I investigated the solid phase synthesis of tungsten isocyanides as precursors to molecular level wires, earning a PhD in inorganic chemistry in the fall of 2000. During my graduate studies I spent a great deal of time lecturing at UWM as well as several other local colleges. Upon graduation I lectured for a year in the general chemistry program at UWM before accepting an assistant professorship at Nazareth College of Rochester. I currently serve as the both the director of the general chemistry program and act as the department’s safety officer.
My research involves various aspects relating to the synthesis of biodiesel from used cooking oil. Recently I have had undergraduates investigating aspects of soap removal, novel gas phase catalysts, as well as isolation of soil microbes for degradation of biodiesel and waste cooking oil remains.
Having served as a member at large for the past three years, I have gotten to know more of my colleagues in the local chemistry community and find that the work that is currently being done by the local section is both innovative and exciting. Recently we have begun the process of re-envisioning the role of the local section in light of all of the changes that are taking place both locally and nationally. I feel that both the work that has been started under the current leadership and that which is planned for the next year are worth supporting and as such, I am eager to get involved in a greater leadership capacity.
