Chemistry Department Faculty
Dr.
Lee Ann Fisher Baron, Associate Professor and Department Chair
PhD, University of Michigan, 1984
MS, University of Michigan, 1979
BS, Wittenburg University, 1977
Dr. Baron teaches the courses SCI 101: Physical Science, CHM 303-304 Organic
Chemistry, CHM 403: Advanced Organic Chemistry, and CHM 452: Biochemistry. Her
research interests involve chemical education and the synthesis and characterization
of model systems for enzyme active site. Contact Dr. Baron by calling (517)437-7341
Ext. 2466 or e-mail lee.baron@hillsdale.edu
Dr. Christopher VanOrman, Associate Professor
PhD, Case Western Reserve University, 1992
BS, Albion College, 1987
Dr. VanOrman teaches the courses SCI 101: Physical Science, CHM 101-102: General
Chemistry, and CHM 406:Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. His research interests
are in the synthesis and characterization of novel binuclear copper complexes.
Contact Dr. VanOrman by calling (517)437-7341 Ext. 2506 or e-mail chris.vanorman@hillsdale.edu
Dr. Mark A. Nussbaum, Associate Professor
PhD, University of Illinois, 1987
BA, Taylor University, 1982
Dr. Nussbaum teaches the courses SCI 101: Physical Science, CHM 415: Analytical
Chemistry, CHM 419: Analytical Separation Science, and CHM 522: Instrumental
Analysis. His research interests involve analytical separation and detection
methodology, particularly as applied in high-performance liquid chromatography
and capillary electrophoresis. Separations of enantiomers and novel detection
methods for difficult compounds (e.g., by use of a nitrogen-specific detector) are
his current areas of focus. Contact Dr. Nussbaum by calling (517)437-7341 Ext. 2612 or e-mail mark.nussbaum@hillsdale.edu
Dr. Ray
L. Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
PhD, Ohio University, 1966
BS, Kent State University, 1961
Dr. Johnson taught chemistry at Hillsdale College since 1969 and he served
as Department Chair for the period 1992-2000. He teaches the course SCI 101:
Physical Science . His research interests are in chemical analysis, thermodynamics
and kinetics of aqueous systems, environmental chemistry, and the use of multimedia
and hypermedia in education. Contact Dr. Johnson by calling (517)437-7341 Ext.
2397 or e-mail rlj@hillsdale.edu
Mr. R. Eugene Herbener, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
Graduate studies, Ohio University, 1966-1967
MST, University of New Hampshire, 1962
MS, University of Delaware, 1952
AB, Western Michigan University, 1948
Department Chairman, 1961-1992. As an organic chemist Professor Herbener's research interests involved nitrogen heterocycles. As a teacher his primary interest was in chemical education. With the advent of computers he became involved in computer-aided instruction, especially the animation of organic chemical mechanisms as a classroom tool. During his early years at Hillsdale he taught all courses offered by the department except Physical Chemistry. He can be reached by e-mail at reherbener@qcnet.net