I was born in Kansas, but grew up in Wisconsin, just outside Milwaukee. I went to school at the University of Wisconsin - Madison (go Badgers) majoring first in mathematics, then adding chemistry later. Like W&M they would not let me add a third major in physics. I did an Honors project with Professor Howard Zimmerman. I went to graduate school in sunny southern California at UCLA (go Bruins) and earned a PhD in organic chemistry with Professor Orville Chapman. I relocated to the east coast for a postdoctoral appointment at AT&T Bell Laboratories with Professor Heinz Roth. I was hired one month before AT&T was split up. From Bell Labs I joined the College in 1986.
Since that time I have published over 50 scholarly articles, nearly all with undergraduate co-authors. I have received grants from the NSF, NIH and PRF and others totaling over $900,000. I have taught lecture and laboratory courses at all levels, regularly including introductory organic chemistry. I have been Director of Graduate Studies in Chemistry for 18 years, followed by Department Chair from 2009-2017.