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Chemistry

Through lectures, laboratory work, research, and seminars, students in Randolph College’s chemistry department achieve a basic knowledge and conceptual understanding of matter, its structure and properties, and the nature, energetics, and dynamics of its transformations.

Summer Research project

Why Study Chemistry at Randolph?

The department maintains small lecture and laboratory sections to ensure students have extensive access to faculty and the College’s exceptional facilities and instruments.

Qualified majors have the opportunity to serve as lab assistants and tutors, and the faculty encourages and aids in the placement of students into summer research programs.

All seniors complete a research project under the mentorship of a faculty member.

Degrees offered

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry

Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry

Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Physics

Minor in Chemistry

Curriculum and Courses

Related Programs

Environmental Studies

Physics

The Randolph Experience

Internships and Study Abroad

Randolph students gain real world experience through required off-campus internships in a variety of fields, disciplines, and industries.

Summer Research Program

Spend the summer working closely with a professor and focused on a specific aspect of physics.

Randolph’s intensive eight-week Summer Research Program enables students to conduct research that is complemented by a thorough review of the relevant literature; live in a residence hall on campus, participate in on-campus summer events, attend special seminars with guest speakers; and share the progress and results of their research.

Learn more about the Summer Research Program.

SciFest

Every year Randolph hosts SciFest, a 3-day science and learning festival for local schoolchildren.

Randolph student and faculty volunteers lead activities, exhibits, labs, and talks designed to get young girls and boys interested in and excited about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  

Senior Capstone

Randolph chemistry majors complete a research project under the mentorship of a faculty member.

Unique Experiences

Outcomes

Historic Preservation Law

Janie Campbell ’12, history major
Preservation Consultant, law firm of Rogers Lewis Jackson Mann & Quinn, LLC, Columbia, South Carolina

Janie’s group works with developers seeking tax credits for rehabilitating historic properties.

“I work closely with project architects to ensure that historic, character defining elements of each building are preserved and restored, which can vary tremendously as what is significant to a 1929 airplane hangar is vastly different from what makes a 1963 mid-century modern motel unique!”

She writes National Register of Historic Places nominations and Historic Preservation Certification applications, which detail the property’s significance.  She also conducts site visits to ensure work is being completed as described and photographs the before, during, and after conditions of each project.

“Randolph certainly laid the foundation for my research and writing skills. The Summer Research Program, in particular, prepared me for the type of place-based research I do now. “

Opportunities

Top Ranked Professors

Randolph College’s faculty are consistently recognized as among the best in the nation. The Princeton Review ranked the College in the Top 25 for most accessible professors in the most recent edition of its flagship college guide, The Best 389 Colleges.

Randolph has been ranked in the top 25 for most accessible professors for more than a decade.

Chemistry Faculty

Ann Fabirkiewicz

Charles A. Dana Professor of Chemistry, Pre-Medical and Pre-Veterinary Studies Advisor

Read More... Ann Fabirkiewicz

Bill Bare

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Read More... Bill Bare

Jesse Kern

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Read More... Jesse Kern

Only at Randolph

Randolph students can take advantage of unique programs which give them a more enriching education than can be found anywhere else.

Money for Your Research

The Randolph Innovative Student Experience (RISE) program provides every student a $2,000 grant to fund research, creative work, experiential learning or other scholarly pursuits.

Learn More
The Liberal Arts Advantage

Randolph graduates learn to think critically, solve problems and work well with others. They are prepared to succeed in all aspects of life.

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The Randolph Plan

Randolph students work with faculty mentors to explore a broad range of disciplines as they chart their academic path.

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TAKE2

Two courses per half-mester means you get to focus in and dig deep into your coursework while still having time for the rest of the college experience. Two classes. Seven weeks. Repeat.

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Department News

Alumnae return for Women in Science panel

Ashleigh E. Baber ’05, Bria Carlisle-Thaniel ’16, Courtney Carter Plaster ’92, and Kristina Whately ’14 spoke about their careers.

Read More

Leaving books and beakers behind: Bill Bare earns photography honor

Bare's photograph was recently accepted into the Academy Center of the Arts’ National Juried Photography Exhibition.

Read More

Students studying drone-based delivery systems for summer research project

They will use simulation models to see what would happen if a drone delivery system existed in Lynchburg.

Read More

Alumnae return for Women in Science panel

Ashleigh E. Baber ’05, Bria Carlisle-Thaniel ’16, Courtney Carter Plaster ’92, and Kristina Whately ’14 spoke about their careers.

Read More

Leaving books and beakers behind: Bill Bare earns photography honor

Bare's photograph was recently accepted into the Academy Center of the Arts’ National Juried Photography Exhibition.

Read More

Students studying drone-based delivery systems for summer research project

They will use simulation models to see what would happen if a drone delivery system existed in Lynchburg.

Read More
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Department Chair

Ann Fabirkiewicz

Charles A. Dana Professor of Chemistry, Pre-Medical and Pre-Veterinary Studies Advisor

Credentials:Ph.D., University of Tennessee
B.S., University of Michigan
Associated Departments:Chemistry, Preparing to Study Medicine, Preparing to Study Veterinary Medicine
Office:214 Martin Hall
Phone:434-947-8495
Email:afab@randolphcollege.edu

News Headlines

I knew I wanted to be an organic chemist in high school and that I wanted to teach it at the college level by my sophomore year, so I’m pretty sure I’ve found my dream job! I also get to teach Biochemistry, a course in nutrition and Topics in Organic Chemistry. I advise students interested in the health professions and enjoy helping students both sort out their interests in the many fields available and work through the admissions prerequisites and required paperwork.

My current research interests involve the study of techniques to quantify antioxidants in foods and beverages as well as developing TLC staining methods for antioxidant fingerprinting. My students and I have analyzed chocolate, fresh and bottled juices, herbal teas, and colored rices most recently.

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Bill Bare

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Credentials:B.S., Florida State University
Ph.D., University of Virginia
Associated Departments:Chemistry
Office:Martin 403
Phone:4343858494
Email:wbare@randolphcollege.edu

News Headlines

I began teaching at Randolph College thinking that I would only be here a year. But when the opportunity arose to make the temporary position permanent, it wasn’t hard to make a decision. Randolph is a completely different world than I was accustomed to from my educational background at large state universities, and I really liked the personal feel of the college. The red brick campus began to feel like home almost immediately.

Environmental chemistry is my favorite course to teach because it brings together all of the material learned in introductory courses and places it in the context of important national and global issues. Smog, ozone depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, alternative fuels, and ground water contamination are all issues of tremendous current importance, and are also all issues that cannot be understood without understanding the chemistry of the species and processes involved. Although many of these issues represent great concerns, they also provide great opportunities for future creative chemists to make meaningful improvements to people’s lives.

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Jesse Kern

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Credentials:Ph.D., University of Kansas
B.S., Baker University
Associated Departments:Chemistry, Chemical Physics
Email:jkern@randolphcollege.edu

Physical chemistry has been a passion of mine ever since my first undergraduate thermodynamics course. Physical chemistry gracefully connects the fundamental physical descriptions of matter with the everyday properties of matter that we know and love. I teach courses in quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, materials science, as well as introductory general chemistry. I also advise chemistry majors interested in pursuing graduate school.

My current research interests are related to phenomena that occur at surfaces. We primarily use simulation techniques such as molecular dynamics and Density Functional Theory to understand surface structure and properties on the atomic scale.

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