Professor of Chemistry and Head of the Natural Science Division

I have been at Simpson since 1969 but have taken time off to do research at several universities to learn more chemistry and biochemistry. At Montana State University I did research on the Pinacol Coupling Reaction.  At Cornell University I worked with John McMurry, author of the most popular Organic chemistry text, on the synthesis of molecules used to study structure and reactivity.  During a summer working at Carleton College I studied the stereochemistry of addition reaction to crotonic esters.  A yearlong sabbatical leave at the University of Chicago was spent studying the mechanism of virulence in Agrobacterium tumorfaciens and of plant growth regulators.  These latter two projects have been my interest for the last several years.  I have also been involved with a study of organogeochemical processes in collaboration with Simpson's Geologist and his students.

In addition to teaching chemistry, I have also lead May Term trips to Central America, Zimbabwe, Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia.  I have taught the Freshman Honors seminar several times, and at one time instructed students in Raku Pottery.  I live on a small farm with my partner Carl and our dogs Smitty and Ceasar, where we grow almost any plant that can survive Iowa's climate.