Chemistry welcomes Thomas to faculty
0Written By Jordan Mullins
Dr. Elizabeth Thomas, assistant professor of chemistry, and the rest of the chemistry faculty are dedicating a day next month to recognize difference makers in the world of chemistry specifically. “We want to recognize the new chemistry faculty. We want to recognize our chemistry majors and minors. We want to encourage upcoming freshmen to consider chemistry. Also, we have nomination forms currently out to the students to nominate one of their local high school teachers who made a difference in them learning chemistry,” said Thomas. “Mol Day” is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is currently planned to take place at the President’s house. “We’ll have Periodic Table Cupcakes and Chemistry Raffle Prizes as well,” Thomas said. Thomas is a native of Carroll County, Ky. near the Ohio River. She studied at the University of Kentucky and earned a bachelor’s degree in science education. She then studied for a master’s degree at the University of Louisville with an emphasis on drug design and organic chemistry. After six years at a large pharmaceutical company in Indianapolis, Ind., she went on to teach as an adjunct instructor at the University of Kentucky before going back to school to earn a Ph.D. where she studied bioanalytical chemistry and developed colorimetric assays for the nucleic acids. Thomas enjoys Eastern Kentucky. “I feel at home here,” she said. “The people are genuine. It isn’t a pretentious, stuffy environment. It’s more of an encouraging environment.” Thomas has several goals. “My goal is to write a book, maybe an interactive chemistry textbook or even just another way to teach it [chemistry]. Maybe even do a TED Talk. I think it’d be nice to do something for Appalachia,” Thomas said. “The people of this area are hard workers. My students are amazing. They’re tenacious, dedicated, driven, they have dreams, and they’re very ambitious. Given more opportunities, this place will thrive.”