Even as a child I wanted to be a scientist. In high school I fell in love with chemistry and wanted to pursue a career in pharmaceutical chemistry. As I was finishing my Ph.D. I had the opportunity to teach a summer chemistry course at the College of Eastern Utah and from that moment on I knew that I wanted to be a professor. After teaching in Massachusetts for 11 years I came home to Utah and am happy to be teaching chemistry and forensic science at Snow College.
In 2015 I decided to go undercover as a student at Northern Essex Community College in order to better understand the struggles my students are facing. I took the Accuplacer placement exam, enrolled in classes, and spent a year sitting side-by-side with my students before graduating with an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts. It was the best professional development of my career. The lessons I learned transformed the way I teach.
In my spare time I enjoy a variety of hobbies, including playing board games, making impossible bottles, practicing my skills as an amateur magician, and creating clockwork insects. I am the author of the children’s book Francesca and the Genie of Science. I am also an active public speaker on a variety of topics, including medical quackery, serendipity in science, and the chemistry of chocolate.
