"I entered the chemistry teaching field after earning a bachelor's degree in Genetics from the University of California, Davis and served a farming community near Vandenberg Air Force Base in California until my second pregnancy resulted in twins. After my youngest daughters were born, we moved to South Australia and then to Virginia to follow my husband's career while I stayed home with our children. I returned to teaching when my youngest daughters entered first grade, but found that our expectations differed. When the American Chemical Society offered me a job as a Senior Education Associate working with the Committee on Professional Training, I began writing, conducting surveys, and helping department chairs in undergraduate chemistry parade their programs across a national stage. It was exciting work and I adored the people I met, but my oldest daughter developed extensive medical issues and in February 2011, I left my position to support my family. I developed melanoma in 2012 and my husband's career brought us to Michigan in 2014. Thanks to my doctors' and their staff, I am now disease-stable and I’ve returned to California to live while my divorce finalizes.

I excel at teaching stoichiometry, balancing equations, and helping students develop an understanding of the kinetic molecular theory. I have twelve years of chemistry teaching experience in both California and Virginia." less...