Faculty and Staff
The faculty in the Department each have the terminal degree in their field of study. We pride ourselves on how we work with students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the classroom, the laboratory, and outside of the academic setting. Click on our names to learn more about what we do.
Faculty in the Department
Hua Zhao, Professor and Chair, Ph.D., New Jersey Institute of Technology, Organic Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
Biocatalysis for biomaterials and biofuel, DNA-based hybrid catalysts for asymmetric
catalysis, organic synthesis, deep desulfurization of liquid fuels, and ionic liquids.
Email: Hua.Zhao@unco.edu
Aaron Apawu, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Wayne State University, Analytical Chemistry. Interactions
of external environmental contaminants on brain chemistry.
Email: Aaron.Apawu@unco.edu
Corina Brown, Lecturer, Ph.D., University of Northern Colorado, Chemical Education. Correlation
of topics in pre-nursing chemistry with topics required for success in nursing.
Email: Corina.Brown@unco.edu
Aichun Dong, Professor, Ph.D., Colorado State University, Biochemistry; Editor-in-Chief, International
Journal of Biological Macromolecules. Protein structure; structure function relationship;
protein folding/unfolding; protein denaturation, stabilization, and formulation; protein
infrared database.
E-mail: Aichun.Dong@unco.edu
Bob Houser, Professor, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Inorganic Chemistry. Synthetic inorganic
chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry, coordination polymers.
E-mail: robert.houser@unco.edu
Michael D. Mosher, Professor, Ph.D., Texas Tech University, Organic Chemistry. Synthetic organic chemistry,
heterocyclic chemistry of 2-isozazolines, acridine-based anti-cancer drug design,
and organic reactions during the brewing process.
Email: Michael.Mosher@unco.edu
David L. Pringle, Professor, Ph.D., Iowa State University, Analytical Chemistry. Application of HPLC
and GC to biochemical separations; use of naturally-occurring sulfide minerals as
electrode surfaces; development of industrially-based analytical experiments.
E-mail: David.Pringle@unco.edu
Richard W. Schwenz, Professor, Ph.D., Ohio State University, Physical Chemistry. Molecular spectroscopy
of transition metal oxides and halides; computer interfacing with laboratory instrumentation,
physical chemistry reform.
E-mail: Richard.Schwenz@unco.edu
Jerry P. Suits, Associate Professor, Ph. D., University of Texas at Austin, Chemical Education.
Interactive multimedia modules and simulations; computer-interfaced laboratory experiments;
student visualization, learning styles, conceptual learning and achievement.
E-mail: Jerry.Suits@unco.edu
Murielle Watzky, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Wayne State University, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry.
Use of the optical and electrochemical properties of silver nanoparticles to understand
the mechanisms involved in their antimicrobial action.
E-mail: Murielle.Watzky@unco.edu
Melissa Weinrich, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Arizona, Chemistry Education. Eye-movement
modeling examples, eye-tracking, student conceptions in organic chemistry, organic
assessment practices.
E-mail: Melissa.Weinrich@unco.edu
Adjunct Faculty
Stefanie Barnett, Adjunct Lecturer. Stefanie teaches courses in the general chemistry, science education,
and organic chemistry curriculum.
Email: stefanie.barnett@unco.edu
Alyssa Johnson, Adjunct Lecturer. Alyssa teaches courses in the general chemistry, science education,
and organic chemistry curriculum.
Email: alyssa.johnson@unco.edu
Staff in the Department
Rosanna Parks, Administrative Assistant. Rosanna takes care of the chemistry office's day-to-day
management, tracking budgets, ordering office supplies, balancing all the faculty
travel cards, assisting students, preparing paperwork and examinations, and planning
the events of the Department.
Email: rosanna.parks@unco.edu
Sean Johnson, Assistant Brewer. Sean assists in the teaching, recruiting, and curriculum development
for the brewing laboratory science program and in the maintenance and operation of
the brewery on campus.
Email: sean.johnson@unco.edu
Scott Newkirk, Laboratory Coordinator. Scott runs the chemistry stockroom, a position that includes
ordering and maintaining the chemical inventory and equipment, preparing chemistry
labs, assisting in activities that use the labs, maintaining the laboratory fees budget,
and supervising undergraduate student workers.
Email: scott.newkirk@unco.edu
