Meet the Instructor

Dr. Danielle Garrett

Associate Professor of Chemistry Education

Recipient of the 2022 Tennessee Academy of Science Distinguished College/University Teacher Award

Dr. Maria Danielle Garrett is an associate professor at Belmont University. She received her Ph.D. in chemistry at Vanderbilt University, where her research focused on ultrafast fluorescence upconversion. Dr. Garrett later received her MAT from Trevecca Nazarene University. Dr. Garrett strives to implement a teaching style that has a strong foundation of student interaction, emphasizes practical applications, encourages critical thinking, and helps students cultivate their love of learning and science. Her research interests include spectroscopy, calorimetry, and greener options in the chemistry classroom. Dr. Garrett is also heavily involved in the development and implementation of science outreach for students and teachers.

Publications

Garrett, M.D. Exploring Wavelength: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of LEDs. Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community. 2025. (Learning Object)

Garrett, M. D. and Mei, H. Making the Invisible, Visible – A Kinesthetic Analogy for Collision Theory, Chem. Educator. 2023, 28, 95 - 99. (Abstract)

Garrett, M. D. It’s Easy Being Green: A Snapshot of a Professional Development Program Focused on Greener Laboratory Options in the Chemistry Classroom through the Lens of a Titrimetric Analysis of Milk of Magnesia and Vinegar, Chem. Educator. 2020, 25, 184 - 193. (Abstract)

Garrett, M. D. Interdisciplinary Learning Communities: Bridging the Gap Between the Sciences and the Humanities Through Forensic Science. In Teaching Chemistry with Forensic Science; Editor, Harper-Leatherman, A. S.; Huang, L.; ACS Symposium Series 1324; American Chemical Society: 2019, pp 109 - 136. Web Release Date: 26-Sept-2019; DOI: 10.1021/bk-2019-1324.ch007 (Abstract)

Garrett, M. D. and Garrett, J. B. Wavelength Analysis of LEDs using Handheld Spectroscopes, Chem. Educator. 2017, 22, 130 - 134. (Abstract)

Garrett, M. D. The Effectiveness and Range of Natural Acid-Base Indicators, Chem. Educator. 2016, 21, 36 - 39. (Abstract)

Bowers, II, M. J., McBride, J. R., Garrett, M. D., Sammons, J. A., Dukes, III, A. D., Schreuder, M. A., Watt, T. L., Lupini, A. R., Pennycook, S. J. and Rosenthal, S. J. Structure and Ultrafast Dynamics of White-Light-Emitting CdSe Nanocrystals, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 5730 - 5731. (Abstract)

Garrett, M. D., Dukes, III, A. D., McBride, J. R., Smith, N. J., Pennycook, S. J. and Rosenthal, S. J. Band Edge Recombination in CdSe, CdS and CdSxSe1-x Alloy Nanocrystals Observed by Ultrafast Fluorescence Upconversion: The Effect of Surface Trap States, J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 12736 - 12746. (Abstract)

Kippeny, T. C., Bowers, II, M. J., Dukes, III, A. D., McBride, J. R., Orndorff, R. L., Garrett, M. D. and Rosenthal, S. J. Effects of Surface Passivation on the Exciton Dynamics of CdSe Nanocrystals as Observed by Ultrafast Fluorescence Upconversion Spectroscopy, J. Chem. Phys. 2008, 128, 084713. (Abstract)

Garrett, M. D., Bowers, II, M. J., McBride, J. R., Orndorff, R. L., Pennycook, S. J. and Rosenthal, S. J. Band Edge Dynamics in CdSe Nanocrystals Observed by Ultrafast Fluorescence Upconversion, J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 436 - 442. (Abstract)

Outreach Events

It’s Easy Being Green: Budget-Friendly Safety-Conscious Chemistry Labs for the Secondary Science Classroom of Today half-day spring workshop series for physical science and chemistry teachers (2025 - present)

It’s Easy Being Green: Budget-Friendly Safety-Conscious Chemistry Labs for the Secondary Science Classroom of Today summer workshop series for physical science and chemistry teachers (2015 - present)

Qualitative Analysis through Back Titrations: Neutralizing Agents – How Basic is It? workshop for AP chemistry students (2016 - present)

Sweet Sweet Chemistry: A Chromatography Challenge workshop for high school chemistry students (2016 - present)

Celebrating the Women of Physical Science outreach event for high school students (2017 - present)

Colorimetry and Calibration Curves: Exploring Serial Dilutions and the Beer-Lambert Law workshop for high school students (2023 - present)