Gary L. Long

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Associate Director of the Academy of Integrated Science

Division Leader for the Integrated Science Curriculum

Gary L. Long is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry. He is an Analytical Chemist and teaches in the Department of Chemistry and the Integrated Science Curriculum of the College of Science. He is also the Division Leader of the Integrated Science Curriculum,  and the Associate Director of the Academy of Integrated Science.

A native of North Carolina, he received his B.S. from Wake Forest University in 1978 and his Ph.D. in 1982 from North Carolina State University. He was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Florida from 1982 to 1983. In 1983, he joined the Faculty of Virginia Tech as an Assistant Professor and, in 1989, was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor. From 1990 to 1991, he was a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar at the Weizmann Institute of Science. He was a Program Director at the National Science Foundation during the 1998 to 1999 academic year. From 2000 to 2006, he was the Director of the Chemistry Outreach Program. He was the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Students and for Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Science from 2012 to 2018. He is the Division Leader for the Integrated Science Curriculum of the College of Science and the Associate Director of the Academy of Integrated Science.

His research programs involve environmental chemistry and chemical education. Thirteen students obtained their Ph.D., and six received their M.S. under his direction. Sixteen undergraduate students performed senior research projects in his laboratory.

Since 1983, he has taught over 13,100 students in classrooms and laboratory courses. He received Certificates for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching from the College of Arts and Science in 1996 and 1999. Also, in 1999, he received the Diversity Award from the College of Arts and Science. He received the Alumni Award for Excellence in Team Outreach in 2004 from the University and the W. E. Wine Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2005. In 2011, he received the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award and an Excellence In Access and Inclusion Award from the University. He was recognized with the Sally Bohland Excellence in Access & Inclusion Award from Virginia Tech in 2018.

During the 2009-2010 academic year, Long was the President of the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Representative to the Board of Visitors. He is a member of the Academy of Teaching Excellence, the Academy of Outreach Excellence, the Academy of Faculty Service, and the Engagement Academy for University Leaders. In 2011, he received the Allan F. Clifford Faculty Service Award from the Department of Chemistry to recognize his work in the Faculty Senate. In 2012, he became a member of the William Preston Society of Virginia Tech for his work with the Board of Visitors.

He is a member of the American Chemical Society and the Analytical Division of the American Chemical Society.