Chemistry and Biochemistry News

This is a typical scene in the office of Dr. Will Harrell, who teaches Organic Chemistry. Students gather for office hours to receive supplemental instruction and help with the subject. Dr. Harrell is so welcoming, and sincerely concerned with student progress, that students feel comfortable coming for help whenever it is needed. These types of interactions and relationships between faculty and students are what make Stevenson special.

Dr. Tracey Mason was awarded the Braude Award by the American Chemical Society Maryland Section last week. The Braude Award was established to recognize outstanding mentorship in undergraduate research. She gave a research talk titled “Trans-Isopropylamine triphenylphosphine diiodine platinum II: challenging the paradigm of cis-geometry in platinum chemotherapeutics” and was presented the award by chapter secretary Dr. Louise Hellwig. Chemistry department faculty came to celebrate with Dr. Mason as well as many senior students.

Gamma Sigma Epsilon, the Chemistry Honor Society new member inductions were held last week. Membership in Gamma Sigma Epsilon is extended to those students who have completed a minimum of 16 credits in chemistry and are enrolled in four additional chemistry credits and who have a minimum GPA of 3.40 in all chemistry courses and a minimum 3.00 GPA overall. This is quite an achievement; congratulations to the new inductees: (front row, L-R) Joseph Acqui, Krystine Hill, Rebecca Holcomb, Jenna Murtagh, and Janaya Slaughter

Please join the chemistry department and all of the SOS at the Homecoming Tailgate before the game this Saturday. It is being held on the Owings Mills North campus this year, just a short walk across the Dell Family Pathway, which can be accessed from behind the stadium. The event runs from 10-12:30, and the weather is supposed to be beautiful! Even if you don’t have tickets to the game, come and enjoy some walk around nachos while visiting with faculty and other alumni. We can’t wait to see you!

One of the highlights of Stevenson’s First Year Seminar course is formulating a service project to bring to Mustangs Make a Difference Day. Held in conjunction with Day to Serve in the state of Maryland, it is a way for Stevenson students to volunteer and give back to their communities. First Year Seminar classes in the Department of Chemistry came up with several unique service projects. One class hosted a Be the Match bone marrow drive, a second class provided materials to make stress relief Galaxy Jars, and a third class promoted Pedestrian Awareness with a pledge to be safe campaign in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Transportation. Whatever the project, students enjoyed the opportunity to get to know their classmates and instructors in a more relaxed setting. The teams used all of their materials to make jars, signed up 49 new potential marrow donors, and collected over 200 signatures.