Biochemistry department selects McMenimen for faculty position
By: Jing Gao
Issue date: 12/10/09 Section: News
The Chemistry Department concluded its search for a new biochemistry professor last week, announcing Kathryn McMenimen ’03 as the chosen candidate.
McMenimen, who will assume the post next fall, completed her PhD in chemistry at the California Institute of Technology after studying biochemistry at Mount Holyoke. She is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Michigan.
According to Professor Wei Chen, Chair of the Chemistry Department, McMenimen was the Search Committee’s first choice to fill the position.
“We always get the most-desired candidate. We’ve been keeping this record [for] ten years,” she said. “All candidates are really impressed by the facilities we have here. They didn’t expect that a liberal arts college would have such great instrumentation.”
“I am very excited that Katie will be returning to Mount Holyoke. I enjoyed the lecture she gave and I think she is very well prepared for the position,” said Jennifer Soltics ’10, a chemistry major and one of the two students who led the eight-person search committee. “Her research plans are well-suited to the schedule and flow of research during the academic year, which is very different here than at a large graduate institution. She’s very approachable and willing to answer questions, two things that are important for a professor teaching difficult subjects, and I think she will do very well here.”
The new faculty member will be required to lead students in research and lab work. Chen added that although students were not invited to the selection meetings, eight student leaders were chosen for the search, including four chemistry majors and four biochemistry majors.
“They helped get more students engaged,” said Chen. “They took candidates to lunch, took them on campus tours, attended presentations, and gave evaluations and summaries,” she said. “Every time a candidate gave a presentation, the hall was full.”
The students met after the seminars to discuss the candidates. Biochemistry major Shelly Hsiao ’10, the other student committee leader, said she valued the experience “because all the students got to voice in their opinions and make an impact in the science community before we graduate.”
Both students said they were looking for candidates who understood the demands of teaching at a women’s college.
“I was looking for a professor who was dynamic, approachable and good at lecturing. I also wanted someone who understands the dynamics of teaching at a women’s college and values the mission of Mount Holyoke to educate women to become leaders in their fields,” said Soltics.
Hsiao said, “I was looking for distinct traits that are present in good professors I had, such as their enthusiasm in educating diverse women from all walks of life at a small all-women’s liberal arts college.”
McMenimen, who will assume the post next fall, completed her PhD in chemistry at the California Institute of Technology after studying biochemistry at Mount Holyoke. She is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Michigan.
According to Professor Wei Chen, Chair of the Chemistry Department, McMenimen was the Search Committee’s first choice to fill the position.
“We always get the most-desired candidate. We’ve been keeping this record [for] ten years,” she said. “All candidates are really impressed by the facilities we have here. They didn’t expect that a liberal arts college would have such great instrumentation.”
“I am very excited that Katie will be returning to Mount Holyoke. I enjoyed the lecture she gave and I think she is very well prepared for the position,” said Jennifer Soltics ’10, a chemistry major and one of the two students who led the eight-person search committee. “Her research plans are well-suited to the schedule and flow of research during the academic year, which is very different here than at a large graduate institution. She’s very approachable and willing to answer questions, two things that are important for a professor teaching difficult subjects, and I think she will do very well here.”
The new faculty member will be required to lead students in research and lab work. Chen added that although students were not invited to the selection meetings, eight student leaders were chosen for the search, including four chemistry majors and four biochemistry majors.
“They helped get more students engaged,” said Chen. “They took candidates to lunch, took them on campus tours, attended presentations, and gave evaluations and summaries,” she said. “Every time a candidate gave a presentation, the hall was full.”
The students met after the seminars to discuss the candidates. Biochemistry major Shelly Hsiao ’10, the other student committee leader, said she valued the experience “because all the students got to voice in their opinions and make an impact in the science community before we graduate.”
Both students said they were looking for candidates who understood the demands of teaching at a women’s college.
“I was looking for a professor who was dynamic, approachable and good at lecturing. I also wanted someone who understands the dynamics of teaching at a women’s college and values the mission of Mount Holyoke to educate women to become leaders in their fields,” said Soltics.
Hsiao said, “I was looking for distinct traits that are present in good professors I had, such as their enthusiasm in educating diverse women from all walks of life at a small all-women’s liberal arts college.”