Chemistry Department Thrilled to Announce Multiple Promotions

 

Prof. Rich Loomis joined the Chemistry Faculty in 1998 and has been promoted to Full Professor this July.  His research is focused on the detailed interrogation and manipulation of reaction dynamics at the molecular and atomic level.  Rich has mentored 20 undergraduate researchers, 17 graduate students, and 6 postdoctoral researchers, and has published more than 50 scientific papers.  Rich teaches Chem 111A (General Chemistry I) and Chem 543 (Physical Properties of Quantum Nanostructures).  Rich serves as the Chemistry Department’s Director of Graduate Studies, managing the graduate program and advising graduate students in Chemistry. He is also the Director of Graduate Recruiting, and reviews all applicants for the Chemistry Ph.D. program and actively participates in recruiting applicants and those who have been made offers to study in our department.  Rich has been awarded the NSF Career Award (2004), the David and Lucile Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering (2001), the Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award (1998), among other notable awards.  For his teaching and mentoring at Washington University, Rich Loomis has been presented the David Hadas Teaching Award (2012), Student Life Best Professor (2010), Freshman Class Council’s Outstanding Professor of the Year Award (2010), Council of Students of Arts & Sciences Faculty Award (2008, 2004, 2000), Graduate Student Senate Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award (2008) and Special Recognition for Excellence in Mentoring (2007, 2001). 

 

Dr. Alison Redden joined the Chemistry Department in Fall 2012 as a General Chemistry Lecturer and Director of the Chemistry Transition Program.  She spent two years in this role, and then took the reins as the sole instructor for the General Chemistry Laboratory course (Chem 151 & 152) which is independent of the lecture course.  Alison’s students appreciate that she visits the lab every lab period each week, she provides a significant amount of resources outside of the lecture/lab periods, she is an engaging lecturer and has implemented in-class active-learning techniques to keep them engaged.  Alison has refreshed much of the content of the course and has introduced new technology to the lab.  She participates in the university community, hosting a First Year Center “Lunch by the Dozen”, mentoring the students who initiated the WU Chemistry Tournament and volunteering in the Catalysts for Change STEM workshop for 9th-grade girls.  Alison has been promoted to Senior Lecturer this July.