Interesting Items:
- Chemistry Faculty Photographs
- Chemistry Department Photographs
- Procter and Gamble Lecture Series
- Archive of Student Awards
Newsletters for Year
Archive
This goal of the archive is to provide the history of the Department of Chemistry. If anyone has additional information, pictures, etc., please provide us and we will endeavor to update as soon as possible.
Department of Chemistry Chair
Dr. James Kane, 1965—1966, Coordinator
B.S., 1954, Upsala College; Ph.D., 1960, The Ohio State University
Dr. Gordon Skinner, 1966—1967, Acting Chair
B.S., 1947, M.S., 1949, Manitoba; Ph.D., 1951, The Ohio State University
One of the founding faculty members of the WSU Chemistry Department
Dr. Robert Conley, 1967—1968, First Department Chair,
A graduate of Seton Hall University with a doctorate in chemistry from Princeton, Conley had achieved prominence in the study of polymers and infrared spectroscopy. Later became Dean of Science and Engineering, instrumental in formation of the WSU School of Medicine, In later years, after his service at Wright State, Conley was to become president of Seton Hall; still later he would be president of the Union of Experimenting Colleges and Universities in Cincinnati.
Dr. David Karl, 1968—1976
B.S., 1956, Providence; Ph.D., 1960, Michigan State University
Dr. Charles Carraher, Jr., 1976—1984
Dr. Carraher received his BS at Sterling College in 1963 and PhD in 1967 from University of Missouri, Kansas City. After serving as Chair of the WSU Chemistry Department, he served as Chair of the Science Division at the University of South Dakota, Dean of the Charles E.Schmidt College of Science at Florida Atlantic University, and Professor of Chemistry at Florida Atlantic University and Associate Director of the Florida Center for Environmental Studies.
Dr. George Hess, 1984—1988
George retired from Wright State University in 1999 after 34 years of exceptional service to the Chemistry Department. George is a native of Collingswood, New Jersey. He did his undergraduate work at Juniata College in Pennsylvania, receiving his Bachelor’s degree in 1959. He furthered his education at Pennsylvania State University earning his Ph.D. in 1964.
George came to Wright State in 1965, the same year as John Fortman and Paul Servé. Known for his patient, caring attitude and devotion to teaching, he won several Outstanding Teaching awards over the years. His research in environmental and organic chemistry attracted a large number of students and George was a mentor to quite a number of our Master of Science graduates.
Dr. Sue Cummings, 1988—1993
Dr. Cummings received a B.A. in chemistry from Northwestern University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from The Ohio State University. She joined Wright State where she pursued her scientific career before retiring as full professor and head of the department.
Dr. M. Paul Servé, 1993—1999, Assistant Dean to CoSM 1999—2003
Paul was one of the earliest members of the Wright State Chemistry faculty, coming to Wright State in 1965. He received his B.S. from Notre Dame in 1961 and his Ph.D. there in 1964. He did postdoctoral work in biochemistry at the University of Chicago in 1965 before coming to Wright State as an Assistant Professor that same year. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1969 and to Professor in 1975. In addition to numerous research articles in organic synthesis, Paul authored a book, A Step-By-Step Approach to Elementary Organic Synthesis (Ann Arbor Press) in 1975. He served as department Chair from 1993-1999, and from 1999 until his retirement was an Assistant Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics part time and part time teaching in the Chemistry Department. As Assistant Dean his duties were mainly in the area of science education for teachers, especially early childhood education. Dayton Daily News—Obituary.
Dr. Paul Seybold, 1999—2004
B.E.P., 1960, Cornell; Ph.D., 1968, Harvard
He joined the Wright State Chemistry Department in 1970.
Dr. Kenneth Turnbull, 2004—2012
1973 B.Sc. Chemistry (1st Class Honours) from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland
1976 Ph.D. degree in "Aspects of the Chemistry of Mesoionic Compounds" from Heriot-Watt University. He joined the Wright State Chemistry Department in 1980.
David A. Grossie, 2012—
1977 B.Sc. Texas Lutheran College
1982 Ph.D. Chemistry - "X-ray Structural Investigations: I. Two Alkaline Earth Metal Complexes; II. Triphenylphosphine Oxide Silver (I) Nitrate; III. Two molecular Complexes of 18-Crown-6; IV. 2-(4,5-Benzo-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-cyclohexanone; V. Bis-bicyclo-[3.3.1]-nona-9-ylidene." Texas Christian University.
He joined the Wright State Chemistry Department in 1992.
Emeritus Faculty:
Dr. Rubin Battino 1966—1995
Dr. Sue Cummings, 1969—1993
Dr. John Fortman, 1965—2001
Dr. George Hess, 1965—1999
Dr. James Kane, 1965—1994
Dr. M. Paul Serve, 1965—2003
Dr. Gordon Skinner, 1964—1986
Dr. Thomas O. Tiernan, 1975—2001
Former Faculty:
Dr. Don Adams, 1977—1982
Dr. Daniel Bombick,
1986—2013 Obituary (PDF)
Dr. Charles Carraher, Jr., 1976—1984
Dr. David Karl, 1968—1988
Dr. Robert Conley 1967—1977
Dr. James DiNunzio 1978—1986
Dr. Ivan Goldfarb,
1982—1997
Dr. Frank Harris, 1970—1983
Dr. Edgar Hardy
, 1977—1980
Dr. Michael Smith,1973—1977
Dr. Michael L. Taylor, 1975—1987
Dr. Paul Taylor, 1973—1978
