Chemistry Faculty

Irvin J. Levy
Professor

Department Chair
Chemistry
 

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p: 978.867.4371 (Divisional Secretary)

B.S. University of Bridgeport 

M.A. Wesleyan University

M.S. Boston University 

Irv's interests in chemistry are primarily related to the development of educational resources for green chemistry, chemistry that is inherently safer for human health and the environment. Current projects involve the creation of green organic chemistry laboratory experiments, the introduction of toxicology into the chemistry curriculum, and community outreach via green chemistry. Irv is a founding member of the Green Chemistry Education Network; a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Scientific Affiliation; and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Joel Boyd
Associate Professor
Chemistry

p: 978.867.4578
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B.S. Wayland Baptist University
Ph.D. Rice University 

Dr. Boyd joined the chemistry faculty in 2010 after nine years of teaching chemistry at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. Joel's research interests involve the photocatalytic purification of water. In this process, light is used to activate a photocatalyst, such as titanium dioxide, in order to remove or destroy organic, inorganic, and microbiological contaminants in water. Undergraduates in his group have had the opportunity to present their research at various conferences, publish their work in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and even apply for two US patents in recent years. He is a member of the American Chemical Society.

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Dwight Tshudy
Associate Professor
Chemistry

p: 978.867.4799

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B.A. Gordon College

Ph.D. University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Dr. Tshudy joined the chemistry faculty in 2004, after spending 14 years in the analytical chemistry laboratories at Xerox. His research interests include utilizing chromatographic and mass spectrometry techniques in the analysis of alternative fuels, environmental samples and materials of forensic value.  Another area of interest is the use of analytical chemistry techniques applied to toxicity determination which relates to the green chemistry emphasis in the department. Dwight is collaborating with Professor Terry Collins at the Institute for Green Science at Carnegie Mellon University on the characterization of TAML degradation products. He is a member of the American Scientific Affiliation, the American Chemical Society, and a local chromatography discussion group: massep.org.

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Katy Van Kirk
Adjunct Instructor
Chemistry

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B.S. Temple University
M.S. Youngstown State University

Katy joined the chemistry faculty in 2011. Prior to teaching, Katy spent 10 years involved in medicinal chemistry research at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Aventis Pharma. While working in the pharmaceutical industry, she was actively involved in synthesizing compounds for the oncology, psychiatric and cardiovascular programs. Her current research interests include: the incorporation of Green Chemistry into the General Chemistry curriculum, improving the science training of education majors, science curriculum enhancement in grades K-8, and the exploration of the use of catalysts in the undergraduate laboratory. She is a member of the American Chemical Society. She is an adjunct faculty member of Endicott College and Salem State University.