ELEMENTS The Alumni Magazine of the Department of Chemistry at

From the Department Chair

I have never known a building to occupy the top three floors, approximately 40,000 be completed ahead of schedule. I assignable square feet. All student organic have never known organic labs in syntheses will be conducted forthe first time in any building other than Davidson many of the 92 hoods in the building. Three Hall. I have never known Virginia spacious rooms for the Chemistry Learning Tech in the Atlantic Coast Center, one computer classroom, and a large ' Conference. After my 36 years in distance learning facility supplement the residence, things are indeed laboratory space. State funds totaling changing. Virginia Tech will join approximately$ l .6M are available for furniture • Wi.:J.aii.flJJ;tJ.lJ.,�,-;c... the ACC in all sports July 1, 2004. and laboratory equipment. Professor Gary Long The new Chemistry-Physics building will has won a NSF grant to assist in outfitting the What's Inside: accept its initial students Spring, 2004. All analytical chemistry labs. Numerous faculty instructional Chemistry laboratories will be have helped in planning the building. New What'sNew in housed in the same building for the first Chemistry 3 time in over 25 years. Chemistry will (Continued on Page 2)

Student News 4 Commentary from tlie _Jldvisory Counci{ FacultyIn The News 5 The Department of Chemistry is now have world-class part of the new College of Science. teaching facilities Spotlight on Chemistry was critical to the mission of that our world­ Research Faculty 7 the old College of Arts and Sciences and class faculty and in the smaller, more focused College of students deserve. Alumni Spotlight 8 Science, Chemistry will play an even more Moving into vital role. Chemistry has consistently the new Chem­ StaffSp otlight 9 brought in more research dollars to the istry/Physics per faculty than all but one building will also JO Faculty Spotlight Department. In addition to its leadership free up Davidson role in research, Chemistry must provide Hall for its long Alumni Highlights 12 basic chemistry instruction to hundreds of needed renova­ science and engineering majors every year. tion. Renovation Donors 14 Some of you might recall that Davidson of Davidson Hall must remain the highest Hall does not offer the most modern, well­ priority among capital projects for Virginia Tech. equipped, state-of-the-art, garden spot Our ability to recruit and sustain top rank faculty teaching laboratories that you might expect and graduate students is severely limited by our froma Research I University. Fortunately, lack of research laboratory space. The ■ this is about to change. Construction is Department of Chemistry Advisory Council':' has almost complete on the new Chemistry/ been a vocal advocate of both the Chemistry/ ■ Physics Building. This building is Physics building and the renovation of Tel: 540-231-5391 dedicated to instruction with numerous Davidson Hall. We have had numerous Fax: 540-231-3255 fully equipped and network ready meetings with the administration and have made [email protected] classrooms and laboratories. We will now www.chem.vt.edu (Continued on Page 2) Comments fromDepartment Chair - Continued Comments fromAdvisory Council- Continued laboratory experiments are being written which utilized much sure that the appropriate state officials, including the of the new equipment. The Chemistry faculty person most Governor, have been kept fully aware of the involved with the new building is Professor John Dillard. accomplishments and needs of the Department of With the aid of Wanda Hensley, a longtime and loyal staff Chemistry. One of our communication tools is an Annual person, John has kept anyone who is interested up-to-date Review of the Department of Chemistry prepared by the on the building construction. I refer you to the "Construction Advisory Council. This Annual Review is too long to be News" on the departmental website which documents included in the Department's newsletter, but you may "pouring the footers"to "putting on the roof'. An excellent request a copy by writing to the newsletter address. picture of the new Chemistry Complex from the air can be We encourage you to join the Advisory Council in its foundwith this article. John pilots the plane, while Wanda advocacy of the Department of Chemistry. We ask that takes the pictures. Virginia residents write or call your representatives. Those Without John's constant supervision, the building, I am of you who can, please contribute to the Friends of sure, would suffer. John not only attended the biweekly Chemistry scholarship endowment fund which will help to meeting of the various contractors and subcontractors, but ensure excellence in our Department into the future. he got to know many of the workers on a first-namebasis. He personally has placed the orders for equipping the new E.Gary Cook building. He also has his own 'hard hat'! Words cannot Chair, Advisory Council express the great appreciation for the services of Professor John Dillard in overseeing the building construction. With *The Department of Chemistry Advisory Council is no release time from teaching or research, John's efforts composed of VA Tech alumni fromthe business, academic over a 24-month period were truly "herculean". and government communities. The Council provides The rainbow of opportunities created by this new massive advice, advocacy and assistance to the Department, its structure will help move Virginia Tech Chemistry furtherinto Faculty and its students. the top tier of departments that are committed to quality teaching, strong in research, deep in scholarship, and Dr. Cook, (Ph.D.,1970) is the retired Chairman, President consistent in outreach across the globe. and Chief Executive Officerof Witco Corporation and has been Chair of the Advisory Council for two years.

Page2 Wliat's :New In Cliemistry

Chemistry Selected as Partner in Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards (2002-03 Academic Year) Carnegie Initiative The University's Chemistry Ella Chow-Nominated by Kaye Castagnoli and Dr. Paul Carlier forteaching Department has been chosen to in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory participate in a multi-year research­ HuirninLi- Nominated by Dr. PatriciaArnateisand Jeanine Eddleton for and-action project aimed at improving teaching in the General Chemistry Laboratory doctoral education at American SteffanieLiskey- Nominated by Dr. JirnTanko for teaching in the Physical . The CarnegieInitiative on Chemistry Laboratory the Doctorate (CID) has selected 33 Laura Nakovich- Nominated by Dr. Gary Long for teaching in the Analytical partner departments in chemistry, Chemistry Laboratory education, English, and rnathernatics to analyze aspects of their doctoral Graduate Research Awards (2002-03 Academic Year) programs and link specific activities to desired outcomes. Feihe Huang-Nominated by Dr. Gibson Tech Chemistry Professor, JirnTanko, Changhui Liu- Nominated by Dr. Kingston described the CID as an opportunity Jererny Lizotte -N orninatedby Dr. TirnLong for universities to participate in a William Lokar-Norninated by Dr. Ducker discussion evaluating their goals for graduate education. Tech's Chemistry Department will have a seat at the table to participate in the group dialogue examining and assessing ideas Summer Undergraduate pertaining to graduate education in Research Programs The Adhesion Science Aw ard chemistry. Abound Cornrnittee rnet recently and •••••••••••••••••••• informed the Chemistry Our chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma has 1. NSF REU grant to TornWard/ Department that Christopher (unanimously) won the bid to host the TirnLong through the Center Palmer will receive the 2004 National Conclave (aka47thBiennial for Adhesive and Sealant J.P. Wightman Scholarship this Conclave)! This is a tremendous honor Science. Twelve students year. Chris is not a chemistrymajor, for both our chapter and also the 2. Judy Riffle's IGERT REU but is working with TirnLong. The university! It will take place between July program. Seven students title of his research in "Polymers 27-31, 2004. 3. Jirn McGrath's PFI grant as Gene Transfer Agents: •••••••••••••••••••• supplement. Seven students Synthesis, Characterization, and Transfection." William Ducker and TirnLong have been 4. Mark Anderson's new NSF­ promoted to Full Professor and Paul REU grant. Ten students Carlier has been awarded tenure. We are indeed fortunateto have these three very fine facultycolleagues. In 6 semesters of operation, 27,500 experiments have been performedin the MCL •••••••••••••••••••• by students in public high schools all over the Cornrnonwealth according to The Mobile ChemistryLaboratory (MCL) Barbara Bunn, the traveling teacher. Many of these experiments are cornputer­ was featuredat the 17thBiennial ChernEd driven, with several experiments using high tech instrumentation not normally Conference the week of July 27 atAubum available to freshman college students. This type of experiment not only University. A syrnposiurn that Sunday motivates the students but gives therna head start for post secondary education. (Chemistry Outreach through Traveling Over 500 letters of cornrnendationfrorn students, teachers, parents, principals, Van Programs) was arranged to school superintendents, city and state officialsand legislators have been received showcase the MCL and several other during the 3 years of operation. outreach programs.

Page3 DEPARTMENTHOSTS NORMAN HACKERMAN INTERACTIVE DVD TEXTBOOK

On March 19, 2003 Professor Chemistry Instructor Ketan Trivedi has put a semester's worth Norman Hackerman returned to of freshman chemistry onto an interactive DVD, first used Virginia Tech campus after an this summer in distance learning courses in several places absence of 62 years. Professor including Abingdon and Roanoke. The DVD has 10 chapters Hackerman presented a seminar and several sections under each chapter, just as a traditional and attended a special dinner textbook would. The DVD contains 88 different voices as hosted by University President well as videos, animations, practice problems and timed Steger. Emeritus Professor multiple choice questions. It also includes an interactive Wightman invited Hackerman to periodic table, which speaks the names of the elements in a campus and served as his personal male voice for metals, a femalevoice fornon-metals, and yet host. Professor Hackerman, who another female voice for metalloids. Trivedi and his company, turned 91 this year, taught at VPI in the early 1940's as an Trivedi Technology Innovations International (T2 12), Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department. Instead developed the DVD over the course of three years, looking at of teaching regular students at VPI, he taught soldiers under over 27 chemistry textbooks for guidance. It took Trivedi the Army Specialized Training Program. He had seven three-and-a-half months to develop the firstperiodic table for sections of two classes per week, teaching chemistry to the project. Even then, he wasn't sure if he wanted to continue guys who couldn't care less. When Norman asked the with the project given the amount of time it required. Within Head of the department about where he could do his a year, Trivedi and his company hope to have a whole year's research, he told him, "In Virginia, research is done at worth of chemistry on the DVD. Students can interactively Charlottesville." Professor Hackerman is an emeritus learnabout elements, formulas, and compounds through trial chemistry professor and former president of both the and error. Trivedi said using the DVD has made his lectures University of Texas, Austin and in Houston. fresher and allowed the students to be more involved. Ten He headed both institutions, successively, during the students have been very involved with Trivedi and the turbulent 1960s and '70s and into the '80s. Project, and the students' input has made the project what it is, he said. Student :News

Jason Jones was selected to attend the Matthew Shoulders was awarded a 53rd Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Department of Homeland Security Lindau, Germany, from June 30-July 4 undergraduate scholarship for the Mike Zalich was awarded a Fulbright this summer. This meeting was upcoming academic year. This was Scholarship! Mike who currently works sponsored by the DOE Office of the firstyear the scholarship has been in the RiffleResearch Group will be using Science. Jason holds an ORISE (Oak offered. The scholarship provides for the scholarship to work with Dr. Tim St. Ridge Institute for Science & tuition and fees and a monthly Pierre at the University of Western Education) fellowship for his graduate stipend until he graduates next spring Australia in Perth. studies. and also entails an eight to ten week • ••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • internshipin the summer of 2004 at a Ashley Milligan, a junior chemistry site selected by the Department of major, received the Glenn T. Seaborg Benjamin Courmier was funded $600 Homeland Security. Research Fellowship, which enabled her for a travel grant to attend the New •••••••••••••••••• to spend the summer at Los Alamos Orleans ACS meeting. The recognition National Laboratory. is from the Division of Organic Brian Hoffman in the Taylor Chemistry of the ACS Undergraduate Research Group was awarded a $300 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Travel Award program, sponsored by travel grant to attend the 2003 Courtney M. Eisn, a BS chemistry major, J &J Pharmaceutical Research and Pittsburg Conference inOrlando, FL received a $5000 scholarship from 3M for Development , L.L.C. and give an oral presentation. the 02-03 academic year.

Page� Pacu{ty In CJ'lie :News

Karen Brewer and Paul Deck Harry W. Gibson of the Chemistry Department were granted Research presented an invited lecture entitled "Self­ Assignment Leave as recom­ Assembly Using Macromolecular Building mended by Dean Chang and Blocks" at the Seventh International Larry Taylor. Karen's assign­ """"�""' Conference on Frontiers of Polymers and ment is for the period August Advanced Materials in Bucharest, Romania on 10, 2003 - December 24, 2003. Paul's assignment is for the June 11, 2003. The presentation featured the research of period December 25, 2003-May 9, 2004. students Jason W. Jones and Feihe Huang and postdoctoral associates Zhongxin Ge and Auric Farcas, a Romanian, on complexation of functionalized polymers with each other, with multifunctionalsmall molecules and with ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• fullerenes

Daniel Crawford was selected to receive a •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •••• •••• •••• • Cottrell Scholar Award from Research Corporation for his proposal "Quantum Harry Gibson's paper entitled "First supramolecular poly Mechanical Studies of Chirality: Local (taco complex)" was among the top ten accessed on the Correlation Methods for Optical Rotation in web from the online version of Chemical Communications. Large Molecules." The Award was for $75,000 In June, the article received 680 accesses, placing it within to be used at Daniel's discretion. The Research Corporation the top ten. is funding 12 of the 122 proposals submitted this year in the areas of chemistry, physics, and astronomy. Other winners are from Cal. Tech, Washington, Notre Dame, ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Syracuse, Illinois, Georgetown, Iowa State, Arizona, and Oregon.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The Hayden McNeil Publishing Company featured the Analytical Chemistry 3124 lab book and Gary Long as their author for the Brian M. Tissue attended The 14th month of August, 2003. International Conference on Dynamical Processes in Excited States of Solids during August 3-8, 2003 in Christchurch, New Zealand. There were 46 oral and approximately 70 poster presentations at this conference from researchers throughout the world. Brian presented a 20- ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• minute invited talk on Aug. 4 entitled: "Luminescence Dynamics in Rare Earth-Doped Gdp3 Nanoparticles." John Morris is the sole awardee of a DURIP grant from Virginia Tech. DURIPsupports the purchase of state-of­ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• the-art equipment that augments current university capabilities to performcutting-edge defense research. Geno Iannaccone was honored as a nominee for the President's Award for Excellence in 2002-2003.

Page5 Pacufty In

Brian Hanson was the recipient of the Clifford Service Award this year. Agness John Morris was invited to participate in Chandler was the recipient of the McNair Grambling State University's Second Annual StaffAward. Biomedical Research Symposium. John presented a seminar on both his research and opportunities for graduate study at Virginia Tech. The Symposium is designed to provide role models to Grambling State students and to provide encouragement to minority students to pursue graduate education toward Ph.D. or Ph.D/MD programs.

Tim Long was selected as one of the VT Panhellenic Teachers of Excellence for2003 ! As part of the Greek Week Festivities each of the sororities chose three teachers they viewed as outstanding. Jim McGrath was presented with the Polymer Chemistry Division Special Service Award. llt:i.,.�IW This award recognizes continued dedication service to the Division ofPolymer Chemistry, Inc. Jim's tremendous continued service with organization of POLY workshops saw its culmination with a record breaking attendance at the Fuel David Kingston traveled to Suriname May Cells Membranes workshop earlier this year. In addition, 12-16 as part ofhis InternationalCooperative Jim's organization of Polyolefins, Polyurethane, and Biodiversity Grant. He met government Condensation Polymer workshops and others has greatly leaders to discuss the continuation of the benefitedPOLY and has attracted polymer scientists and work and made a trip to a collection site in managers into participating in POLY activities. the rain forest.

PatriciaAmateis and Gordon Yee were awarded $4000 by The 2004 winners of the Flory Education Awardpresented CEUT to provide at no cost an by the Division of Polymer Chemistry of the ACS is the interactive CD to incoming team of Jim McGrath, Garth Wilkes and Tom Ward. freshman students who will take chemistry fall, 2003. The CD must be requested by the student and it concerns mainly quantitative preparation for the course.

Page6 Spotfiglit on �searcli PacuCty

Kay Castagnoli

Kay Castagnoli, a senior research words, "I owe much of my exciting and responsible at all times and learningto scientist in the Harvey W. Peters successful career to the outstanding think critically and independently. We Center and instructor of the Organic education I received at UC Berkeley. It have made organizational changes and Labs, initially became excited about is my commitment to provide an equally changes in the laboratory experiments. chemistry in a high school class when outstanding education to our students. We work closely with the Organic she learned about electrons moving in It requires a team effort to provide this Division faculty in order to incorporate orbitals around a nucleus. Following education to our undergraduates. We whenever possible those areas that high school, she' attended the have made changes that demand much they think are of greatest importance. University of California at Berkeley, more effort fromever yone involved, but It is a challenge and a joy and I am where she was one of only three women I have foundthat overwhelmingly the delighted to have the opportunity to in the Chemistry class (times change). teaching assistants and the laboratory work with all 630 students." Her initial professionalposition was in coordinator support and encourage Kay is also an amateur classical the research group of Dr. Ronald Miller, these changes. For example, we believe pianist who, by invitation participated Chair of the Anesthesia Department, at in the students working individually (I in the prestigious First InternationalVan the University of California, San tell them one doesn't learnto run a mile Cliburn competition for Outstanding Francisco where she worked on by watching somebody else run half of Amateurs and she holds the women's neuromuscular blocking drugs. In 1988, it), taking written exams which test them record for ages 50 -54 for the annual she and her husband Neal Castagnoli, on the fundamental concepts, being Blacksburg Draper Mile foot race. the Peters Professor of Chemistry, relocated to the Chemistry Department at Virginia Tech. Her current research interests focus on neurotoxicity and neuroprotection in a brain area affected by Parkinson's Disease. A major focal area involves examining the role of mono amine oxidase (a brain enzyme which regulates neurotransmitters) inhibitors which are present in tobacco smoke. There are suggestions that they may be related to the lowered incidence (-40%) of Parkinson's Disease seen in smokers and that they might be involved in the addiction process. Current collaborative projects include a smoking cessation program at (Dr. Jed Rose) and a study on yow1g female smokers with Dr. Helen Crawford (Psychology) and Dr. Peggy Meszaros (Center for Technology Impact on Families) at Virginia Tech. In the fall of 2002, she, with great enthusiasm, became the instructor for the Organic Laboratories. In her own

Page? Jl{umni Spotfiglit

Jeannine Eddleton

At 17, and having no clue, I surveyed my General Chemistry classmates in McBryde 100. There were over 5 times more of them than there were kids in my high school graduating class. And then, on stage, Larry Taylor exploded a hydrogen balloon. I didn't see it; I wasn't paying attention. That was September 23, 1982. I've since learned to pay attention. At 18, John Madis demonstrator. And for the next 13 that chemistry lady. I LOVE it when my hired me to work in the chemistry years, excepting a 2 year tenure business majors say that chemistry is stockroom. I filledliquid nitrogen tanks, teaching high school chemistry in their favorite class. I even LOVED hauling them between Davidson and Roanoke (which ended with a phone cleaning up fireextinguisher residue in Robeson, sold glassware, pumped call from Jim Glanville for which I the deafening scream of the alarm after solvents, ground dry ice, rearranged remain grateful), I worked in the little yet another ofJohnDillard's pyromanic gas cylinders as they were delivered lab behind Davidson 3 (inflating episodes. True story. But then, I'm a and purchased, and distributed several hundred hydrogen balloons in chemistry nerd. What'd you expect? packages to the entire department. The that time.) I set up and cleaned up And I do have a clue. Not one moment department covered many fewer square ( chemistry department professors are has been wasted on stuffI didn't LOVE feet than it does now, nevertheless, a real mess, some are worse than to do. (Well maybe I didn't LOVE today.I have to visit the gym to get the others!) demos all over campus, and pchem, sorry Paul Field ... and Field same workout. That year too, a fellow took collections of my favorites again and Jack Graybeal and George classmate, a cute Marching Virginian regularly and often to area schools. Sanzone, whew.) And when the time that I'd met in Brian Hanson's inorganic comes that I no longer work in the class, determined to quickly dismantle And I still have not stopped taking basement of Davidson Hall, there's this his glassware, started a fire in the sink classes at Virginia Tech. I finished the book I need to write ... in syn tech lab WHILE we all had our coursework fora Ph.D. in chemistry and arms in there with OUR glassware. A hated the research lab ( and cumes) so rather large and scary fire as those much that I quit. In 1998 I started all things go. When I do the sodium metal over in the Department of Teaching and in water demonstration these days, I Leaming Ph.D program. So 34 7 credit make sure there is no hexane present. hours later I STILL don't have a Ph.D. At 20, I asked a fellowchemistry major I DO, however, have 4 children with with a Virginia Tech-issue symphony the firestarter(who has made his career band tuxedo to ring dance. Yeah, it was in sales and in industrial water the firestarter from syn tech, but what treatment, thanks Harold Bell.) Many the heck, he was tall ( and I'd already have tried to clue me in, "If you'd stop bought the dress and the shoes.) That making babies, you'd have the degree tux hangs in his closet today and we'll by now." Yeah, yeah. But I do now be married 16 years this November. At have a projected date of graduation, 21, in my exit interview with Jim Wolfe, December 2004. AndILOVED working he asked me what I wanted to do with with Jim Wightman as my next door Editors Note: Jeannine received a MS. my life. Again, no clue. Well Jeannine, office neighbor. I LOVED being in Chemistry in 1996 with Gary Long he said, we've got this job. Lecture recognized by little kids in K.rogers as and Larry Taylor.

Page8 StaffSpot figlit

Geno Iannaccone

Geno Iannaccone, Manager of the Department of Chemistry Analytical Services, has consistently made extraordinary contributions by consistent excellence in the performance of his job. His attitude of team player and unparallel loyalty have served as a model for other staff in the Department. He is considerate not only of the people around him, but he is a very responsible financial manager. He never exceeds his allocated budget, forexample.

On a personal note, Geno is an avid bicyclist. He bikes 6 miles everyday to the bakery for lunch. For him, this accomplishes several things; it gives him some exercise, it reduces his stress, it helps the environment, and he doesn't lose his parking space! Geno is also a member of the NRVBA (New River Valley Bike Association). In addition to training with the club he rides the Wilderness Road Ride and the 100 mile Burkes's Garden Century each year.

Geno likes to canoe and kayak on a regular basis. He is a staff member of the Whitewater Adventure canoe camp program based in Callaway, VA. Seventh through twelveth graders participate in week long canoe camping trips on the New and James rivers. Geno also helps lead day trips for Blacksburg Parks and Recreation, and in the winter and spring helps teach kayak basics at the Blacksburg Aquatic Center.

In the winter months he enjoys skiing at the local West Virginia resorts with his daughter who is an avid skier . John Dillard introduced Geno to skiing as a firstyear graduate student on an outing he led many many years ago. Last year was their first trip out west to Park City, Utah. Geno remarks, "When I was on the slopes I was reminded of Alan Clifford who always loved to ski at the Snowbird resort just down the mountain fromPark City." . .., Geno is an active participant in the polity of his church and has served as Senior Warden, taught Sunday School, been l convocation president, and has served on a number of Diocesan committees and boards. Students and faculty alike speak glowingly of Geno's value to the department. We are truly fortunate to have a person like Geno as manager of our Analytical Services.

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Page9 Some of tfie Chemistry Paces

Angie Miller Agness Chandler

Vicki Hutchison Wanda Hensley r:;�-? Roberta Gilbert ! John Dillard 1 - _ · . • -- ;·. ·. - '. ..1.. ----'!\·-. - -�,. .·-;:-- 1 - . .· . '- ·'

Brenda Mills

Rich Gandour Larry Taylor

Jimmy Viers

Gary Long

Joe Merola Jim Tanko Carla Slebodnick

Page 10 Pacufty Spotfight

Professor Harry W. Gibson Hany was bornin Syracuse, NY in 1941, and lettered in baseball, basketball and but during the war lived with his mother, softball. He managed to finish a rather Jennie, and her parents on the Groves distant second academically to his familyfarm in Lorraine, NY,a small town future wife. there. Second daughter Christie was about 30 miles north. When his father, born in Rochester. Much to Beth's Harry T., alias 'Hoot', returnedfrom his Harry earned a full scholarship from chagrin Harry purchased his first four service in the Navy at the end of the Jones and Laughlin, Harry T. 's wheel drive vehicle, a 1963 Willy's CB, war, Harry vividly remembers peering employer, to attend college. He opted that same day! over the back of the sofa at the soundly to attend Clarkson, which was only 10 sleeping man in the sailor suit and miles from home, to save further After the deaths of his mother and wondering who he was. When Harry expenses earmarked for his younger father Harry sought a change and in was 5 the familymoved furthernorth to siblings. Aftergraduation, Prof. Milton 1984 accepted a position with the Signal Pierrepont, NY to the Gibson family Kerker along with Prof. Egon Matejevic Corporation in Des Plaines, Illinois, just farm, which his father had inherited. pursuaded Harry to stay at Clarkson for north of O'Hare airport. This was a This is where Harry grew up, in the his PhD instead of following his plan short-lived experience, however, as foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, to attend Cornellor the U of Rochester. Profs. Jim Wolfe and Jim McGrath 60 miles south of Montreal. Although Harry, with an NDEA fellowship, worked convinced Harry to move to Blacksburg Harry T. worked as a welder, the farm with Prof. Frank Popp in the area of and become a Hokie in 1986. supported cows, chickens and hereocyclic chemistry directed toward occasionally hogs to help stock the the synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids. Harry is proud of his wife Beth for family larder. Harry W. (known to the During the second year of graduate packing so often and raising their family as Bill) had charge of the school,( first daughter Kate was born wonderful childen so well. Kate is a chickens and learnedthe value of hard (after a harrowing 30 mile drive over icy graduate of the College of Wooster and work with other farm chores, such as February roads to the hospital in works as a technical editor; she is also milking, picking berries, haying, cutting Ogdensburg). Later that same year the mother of first grandchild Meg and stacking wood, etc. Harry bought his new first car, a 1964 Pertchik, who along with husband/ Mustang for $2,373. father Jeff Pertchik, is right here in Harry walked a mile each way to attend Bburg! Son Mark is nearing his degree a one-room school for the first year in Following his 3-year graduate school in Jazz Studies (guitar) at the University Pierrepont, but early one cold (-20°F) stint Harry spent a postdoctoral year of North Florida in Jacksonville, winter day the school burneddown, so at the University ofNotre Dame working supported by his wife, Claudia. all the children were sent to Colton to a with famed stereochemist Prof. Ernest Daughter Christie, a UVA graduate, is multi-room school. Harry sat at a vacant L. Eliel. He learneda lot in his time there a writer, who is now on sabbatical here desk for the first two days and then the and appreciated the keen intellect and after working in Manhattan and absent occupant returned and lucid teaching manner of "Chief E". climbing the ranks to become assistant demanded her desk back; the absentee Just a week before departure editor of American Heritage, a Forbes (Beth Hurley) some 14 years later appropriately enough, red-headed son publication; she and her husband Ben became his wife! Through school Harry Mark arrived! Oderwald are now seeking positions in was active in band, student government their beloved New RiverValley. In 1966 Harry embarked on his industrial career, starting with Union Harry's hobbies still include some Carbide in Tarrytown, NY, just north of sports, namely golf and swimming, as New York City. The chemistry and well as drumming with the world's great colleagues were wonderful, but it was jazz and rock musicians (the latter on expensive and urban (they usually go CD, of course) often accompanied by a HARRY GIB together), so in 1969 off to Xerox in a finecigar and/or a single malt whisky, & BETl:I HUR suburb of Rochester, NY. The older two and some fishing and photography. 1957 children graduated from high school

Page 11 .JIIumni Jfigfi{ig lits

MarieKrafft(B.A.,'79, M.S., '80,Ph.D. Tomas Hudlicky (B.S., '73) was Jennifer Smith (Ph.D. '02) traveled to '83) was recently elected as a fellow of appointed Canada Research Chair in Nice, France for a poster presentation the AAS. Marie is on the Chemistry Biocatalysis at Brock University. at HPLC 2003 , an international faculty at . She Tomas is the recipient of many analytical chemistry conference was recognized for her research in prestigious awards; holder of eight dedicated to developments in liquid organic synthesis, particularly in patents; author of numerous articles; chromatography. The poster was titled developing synthetic pathways with editor of several scientific journals; "Capacity Studies with Silica-Based unprecedentedly high stereoselectivity. chairman of the organizing committee Monolithic Columns." Monolithic and founder of the Symposia on the columns use novel chromatographic Latest Trends in Organic Synthesis. column support structures. Jennifer • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • His research involves converting worked forProfessor McNair. aromatic compounds, often considered industrial wastes, into valuable • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Brian 0. Bachmann - "Yes indeed, I pharmaceutical compounds. The work was an undergraduate at Tech, Class of will lead to the manufacture of December 1992, where I worked compounds needed by society, extensively with T-Hud. I went on to specifically related to analgesic, Mark Rohrbaugh (B.S. '79) notified the do a M.S. with John Buynak at SMU in anesthetic and anti-tumor products - University that he has been appointed Dallas, and a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins in an environmentally benign way. to the position of Director, NIH Office University with Craig Townsend in • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • of Technology Transfer. As a student, Baltimore. I then took a scientific he performed undergraduate research The Eastern Analytical Symposium AS position in industry at a Montreal with Jim Wolfe. He went on to receive 2003 meeting is scheduled for Biotech company called Ecopia a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry from November 17-21 in Somerset, NJ. Biosciences, where I rose to the rank of Penn State University in 1984 and a law Henrik Rasmussen (Ph.D.'90) is Director of Chemistry. I just joined the degree (J.D) with honors from the President of the Eastern Analytical faculty here at Vanderbilt as Assistant George Washington University in 1997. Society for2003 . Henrik works forR.W. Prof." Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Development in New Jersey. His wife, • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Lenore, received a Ph.D. under the supervision of Jim McGrath. Walter W. Zajac Jr. (B.S. '57) retired after 42 years of teaching and research J.W. Hellgeth, The SRN Company, LLC ••••••••••••••••••• in organic chemistry at Villanova (Ph.D. '77) taught a workshop entitled University and is now professor "Chemical Identification via Diamond Jason Gilmore (B.S. '96, M.S. '98) - "Greetings ... thought I'd take the time emeritus of chemistry (96 Honeysuckle ATR Infrared Spectrometry" at the CT., New Holland, PA 17557). Federation of Analytical Chemistry and to thank and express appreciation for Spectroscopy Societies 30th Annual the new alumni sections of the Meeting in October 2003 at Fort chemistry department web page. A great • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Lauderdale, FL. feature and a good interface!" • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Nicholas Snow (Ph.D.'92)- "I will take • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Marie Krafft- "I still think of my VT over as chair of this nut house ( Dept. of heritage -just don't start to beat us up Chem. & Biochem., Seton Hall Univ.) and Mark R. Hammersla (Ph.D. '83) is on the football field. I have recently on Sept 1, I will be full Professor. Thank president and owner of NSI Solutions been promoted to a named professor you and the Department of Virginia Inc. (8301 Old Well Ln., Raleigh, NC so I am now the Martin A. Schwartz Tech for all of your support over the 27615). Professorof Chemistry." years." ------Jody A. Goad

Jody Aaron Goad (B.S. Chemistry, was no surprise to anyone when he stemmed 1998) passed away Wednesday, July 9, accepted. from a pro­ 2003 at his parent's home in Hillsville, He entered as a freshman wanting ject in his VA after a long battle with cancer. He to be an environmental engineer, fifth grade was born on January 26, 1976 in however after his first year he was class where Montgomery County, Virginia, to Jerry bored. His general chemistry lecture he research­ Ray Goad and Nada Edwards Goad. with Prof. PatriciaAmaties helped Jody ed his family tree. Ever since, he From the time Jody was only five years to find his true calling as a chemist. He continued to research genealogy of any old, he was determined to be a Hokie. so enjoyed that class, he decided to kind, including the professional He saw a piece about VT on television switch to the Chemistry Department. genealogy of the faculty- tracing the and said to his parents, "That's where I While in the Department, Jody made professors all the way back to Boyle. want to go to college." many contributions. He held several After his graduation in May 1998, As Jody excelled through high offices in Alpha Chi Sigma, the national Jody decided to pursue a Masters in school, friends and professors chemistry fraternity, and led them to Business Administration. He graduated suggested that he apply to universities have the best professional activity in in May of 2000 with a concentration in such as Yale and Harvard, but he simply the nation. He also researched the finance. From July 2000 until the time replied with "Why, I wouldn't go there faculty genealogy with the aid of Prof. of his death, he worked with Celanese ifl got in." When it came time to apply, Mark Anderson. His love of genealogy Acetate in Nai.rows,VA. he only applied to VirginiaTech, and it

Anna J. Sequeria (PhD '91) was the recipient of the Forsyth Technical Community College's Excellence in Teaching award. This program was established by the State Board of the North Carolina Community College System to provide recognition to teachers who exemplify the highest quality and standards throughout the N.C. Community College System and instructors who have consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching to their students and college. She was selected as a semifinalist at the North Carolina Community College Excellence inTeaching State competition. In May, Anna was also a recipient of the 2003 NISOD ExcellenceAw ard inAustin,Texas. Sheeamed her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and physics, her Master of Science degree in physical chemistry and a diploma teaching at the higher education level from the University of Bombay in India. She has also taught in several countries throughout the world including India and Qatar. In Winston-Salem, she also worked as an analytical chemist at the Bowman GrayTechnical Center and taught at Wake Forest University. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Doug Adams (BS, '7l)recentlyreturned he served as Pastor of Our Savior John Scott Award of the Board of to campus to be honored by the Lutheran in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He Directors of City Trusts, Philadelphia Blacksburg Sports Club. Although now pastors the Community of Hope to Joseph DeSimone, Department of majoring in Chemistry, Doug was an Lutheran Church in Wilsonville, Chemistry,University ofNorth Carolina; outstanding swimmer. In 1970 he took Oregon. Chapel Hill, NC. The award recogniz.<;:s t th 1s , yct, and 4 in the state meet, setting • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • men and women who have contributed 2 VT records and one meet record in in some way to the comfort, welfare, and 100 and 200 breaststroke and 400 IM. 2003 Carl S. Marvel Creative Polymer happiness of mankind. DeSimone was He later earned a Master of Divinity Chemistry Award sponsored by Dow honored for his contributions to the from Lutheran Theological Seminary, Chemical Co. to James L. Hedrick of manufacturing and processing of Columbus, OH, and in 1987 a Doctor of IBM Almaden Research Center, San polymers in supercritical carbon Ministry from San Francisco Jose, CA. James received a PhD under dioxide. Joseph received his PhD under

Theological Seminary. From 1975-1997 the mentorship of Jim McGrath. 2002 the direction of McGrath.

Page 13

Appreciation is extended to all alumni, friends, faculty and organizations that have contributed to the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Tech over the years. Your gifts make a difference and can be designated for general department needs or specificprograms and scholarships. The following names are donors for the period January 1, 2003 to June 30, 2003.

General Fund Edith Hencke Alumni Donald Starr Companies Eileen Hensley Deborah Anderson David Stover Aventis John Johnson Eileen Barber Joe Thrasher Bostik Findley Kevin Klinge Carolyn Barker Samuel Tucker Bristol-Myers-Squibb James Ledwith Jerry Bass Steven Unger Chevron Phillips Barbara Lord John Bays John Waymack Johnson & Johnson Michael Lovrencic Randolph Bower Mark Zingelmann Northrop Gruman Kathrine Lysko James Carper Procter & Gamble Daniel Marsh Gary Cook Edith Marsh Donald Davis Reuben Payne Shawn Dressman Faculty McNair Scholarship Fund Thomas Piccariello Campbell Epes Rich Gandour Ingram Robertson Michael Furness Harry Gibson Alumni Martha Ryhanych ErinGraham Geno Iannaccone Michael Borgerding Cathrine Schenck MaryGum Gordon Yee Margaret Sleevi Kevin Harrington

FriendsOf ChemistryScholarship Fund Mobile Chemistry Lab

Alumni E.I. duPont Shawn Amer TDC Research Wayne Ogden Analytical Chemistry Fund Companies Westvaco Brian Tissue

AlumniHighlights Continued ....

"The Sale of our nonwoven apparel line allows White Jennifer Kelly - "Thank you for thinking of me and Knight Engineered Products to more aggressively pursue keeping me in your prayers. I spent 4 days in ICU, 6 days development of new woven products and continue its in neuro science bldg, and 10 days in inpatient rehab at tradition ofinnovation in both product offeringand value­ UNC after the accident. I'm now in Maryland with my mom added components of its business," explained Scott working on outpatient rehab and still making great progress. Banks (BS, '81, ), Pfesident at White Knight. WhiteKnight Walking and jogging is back to normal and I can swim all 4 Engineer,ed Products provides high quality woven strokes again in the pool. I hope to make it back to UNC in pmtective, .apparelfor thecontrolled environments markets, August to take a class fallterm and I'm really itching to get as well as passenger comfort products for the airline back in lab." industry.

Vili/004200/1103/l.5M72410l0 Page 14 AN INVITATION TO BE PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL ....

Virginia Tech's Department of Chemistry is known world­ wide. Our faculty members are discovering cutting-edge technologies and creating innovative solutions. They are • Write a check made payable to the Virginia Tech successfully collaborating, reaching across the disciplines Foundation, Inc. and earmarked to Chemistryand mail it and building partnerships with industry to produce results­ with a copy of the formbelow. results that impact society, improve lives and ultimately make • Visit www.givingto.vt.edu and make a giftonline using a the world a better place. secure website. Students participate in hands-on learningwith exposure •Call toll-freeat 1-866-401-9926 between 8 a.m. and5 p.m. to real-world business applications and the latest technologies EasternTime. forscientific investigation. Our commitment to our students is to create knowledge, to open their minds to that knowledge, We also accept gifts of appreciated stock or giftsmade and to enable them to make the most of their educational through electronic funds transfer. Please call us to make opportunities. Our goal is to graduate citizens who will be arrangements. And don't forget that you may be able to accomplished professionalsand leaders in their fields, able double or triple your gift to VT through youremployer's to reason and problem-solve as well as communicate, adapt matching giftprogram! Whatever you do, please give. Your and innovate. gift truly does make an impact. To accomplish our goals-to achieve Virginia Tech The Department of Chemistry will use these funds for President Charles Steger's hope of becoming one of this graduate student fellowships, undergraduate scholarships, nation's top research institutes and through that a top institute and various program initiatives. We are also seeking special for graduate and undergraduate education-we need your fundsto equip the new Chemistry/Physics building and to support. Virginia Tech receives less than a third of its funding establish chaired faculty positions. from the state of Virginia. To face the new challenges of For informationabout estate planning, special gifts,or today's global marketplace with increased competition for anything else, please contact Dr. Kylie Johnson, Director funds and students, we need you-business leaders, of Development forthe College of Science at 1-866-401- governmentofficials, individual citizens, and alumni-to make 9926 or 540 231 2551 or [email protected]. Thank you for a gift forour present and our future. your support. We've made every effortto make giving to Virginia Tech and the Department of Chemistry easy. You may choose to contribute in any of the followingways:

Print Name:------GiftOptions: Address: ______Phone: ------_ Check Enclosed (payable to Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc.)

I would like to show my support with a gift of: $_ ___ Credit Card: _Visa _MasterCard _Discover _AmericanExpress Please designate my giftto: Card Number: ______Exp. Date:______Your initials ______Department of Chemistry GeneralFund- 881327 _Chemistry-Physics BuildingFund- 872622 Please returnto: _ Analytical ChemistryFund- 872607 _Mobile Chemistry LaboratoryFund- 871822 Virginia Tech _James P. Wightman Endowed Scholarship in Adhesive and OfficeofUniversity Development Sealant Science - 885180 201 Pack Building _Friends of Chemistry ScholarshipFund- 885487 Blacksburg, VA 24061 _McNair ScholarshipFund- 885802 For furtherinformation call (800) 533-1144 Or visit www.givingto.vt.edu

Page 15 VIRGINIA TECH DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY'S MISSION

The Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry has a long history, a solid reputation and a bright future. Our courses provide the chemical foundation for all Virginia Tech science and engineering students and broaden their understanding about the structure and properties of matter. Our undergradu�te and graduate degree programs prepare society's future chemists and scientists. Our faculty's research and scholarships generate and disseminate chemistry knowledge to the Commonwealth, the Nation and the world. And our outreach programs offeropportunities to share this knowledge with others, including practicing professionals,as well as primary and secondary school children. To achieve our mission, the Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry will continue to pursue multi-disciplinary research within and beyond the University, to find innovative ways to instruct students, to forgepartnerships with industry and governmentand to establish a reputation as one of the world's highest ranking chemistry departments.

Virginia PolytechicInstitute and State University BulkRate Department of Chemistry U.S. Postage Blacksburg, VA 24061-0212 PAID Blacksburg, VA Permit No. 28