Six chemistry honor society seniors in a class of their own

The College of St. Catherine’s chemistry department is a key player in interdisciplinary initiatives to develop scientists and healthcare professionals as well as teachers who are adept in the instruction of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Six senior chemistry majors were inducted into the St. Kate's chapter of the national chemistry honor society, Iota Sigma Pi. Founded in 1902, Iota Sigma Pi promotes the advancement of women in chemistry by recognizing women for their superior scholastic achievement and high professional competence.

These six students’ list of achievements is long and includes:

• Phi Beta Kappa honors for academic excellence in the liberal arts
• A number of scholarships
• National research project study grants
• Invitations to state and national scientific meetings to present their research
• Graduate program acceptance letters from UC Berkeley, the California Institute of Technology, Cornell University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology–Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Stanford University

But upon meeting them at their Iota Sigma Pi initiation ceremonies, what strikes you is the quiet confidence they exude. They tease each other about “doing mathematics for fun” and laugh when they describe each other as geeks and nerds.

But don’t let the self-effacement fool you — they are a well-rounded group. Athletics, student government, volunteering, tutoring — they are Katies to the core — aware of their role in a bigger world.

A native of Lindstrom, Minn., Alexandra Jones was attracted to St. Kate’s emphasis on academics. “I just felt like they reward good academics here,” she says.

Alexandra Jones shakes hands with Dr. Gina Mancini-Samuelson (right) as she is inducted into Iota Sigma Pi. Photo by Andy Ferron.

She is finishing the American Chemistry Society–certified chemistry major with minors in both mathematical sciences and Spanish. Despite her full academic schedule, she manages to find time to compete on St. Kate’s swim team and earned a “Most Dedicated” award for her commitment.

When asked how much she actually sleeps, she jokingly replies, “This semester has been great but if you’d talked to me in November, not so much!”

Jones was one of two chemistry students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in her junior year and chose a chemistry major over mathematics. “I like the conceptual side of chemistry,” she says.

Jones was accepted to doctoral programs in chemistry at Stanford University; the University of California, Berkeley; Cornell University; Princeton University; the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington. She has chosen Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y. “They have really good facilities and it’s in a nice area," says Jones.

“Her great strength is her comfort and ability to organize and present scientific information and data,” says Chemistry Department Chair Gina Mancini-Samuelson, Ph.D. “She has great potential as a scientific scholar and teacher.”

Following her graduation with an ACS-certified chemistry major and biology minor, Abigail Heithoff will also head east to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology–Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute joint program in geochemical biology.

Underwritten by an undergraduate guest student stipend, she spent J-term and the summer of 2007 at Woods Hole where she investigated how global climate change can alter ocean chemistry.

“When I started at St. Kate's, I was really interested in chemistry and I'd also been encouraged to pursue English, which I really enjoy,” she says. “Dr. Mancini-Samuelson has also really opened up opportunities to me. She's a wonderfully warm and caring person, and definitely one of the favorite professors among students.”

Heithoff serves as the Chemistry Club president and is also a member of the student senate. She was part of their campaign to successfully secure funding for a green roof on campus.

Her friendly, outgoing nature has made her a positive leader and role model for aspiring chemistry students and others she tutors in the writing center, although she’s quick to give credit to those who’ve helped her.

Kelly Winters, assistant director of writing in the O’Neill Center for Academic Development, “has also been a huge influence on me,” she says. “Her passion for education really permeates everything she does, and she's incredibly talented and fun to be around. She's been a great source of support and resources for me.”

Sigrid Barklund (left) is congratulated by Dr. Mancini-Samuelson as Dr. Patricia Dunlop (center) looks on. Photo by Andy Ferron.

Sigrid Barklund will graduate in May with a double major in chemistry and philosophy with the distinction as an Antonian Honors Scholar, one of the college’s highest honors.

“There’s actually a lot of intersection between the questions philosophers ask and the questions chemists ask,” she says. “I can’t say enough about how wonderful and supportive all my professors have been. They’ve made my classes fun, but more importantly they’ve taken time to get to know me personally and encourage me as a student.”

Barklund will head to graduate school at Caltech next fall to earn her Ph.D. in physical chemistry. It was one of six graduate programs to which she was accepted.

“I’ve been a chemistry tutor and teaching assistant for the past two years and I’ve loved it, so I definitely want to teach as part of my career,” she says. “Also, I think that as a woman I can help encourage women and students of color into scientific careers in my role as a professor.”

But although she may travel far from the St. Kate’s campus, she has left her own legacy.

Through a special mentorship program, Barklund assisted Assistant Professor of Chemistry Patricia Dunlop, Ph.D., and Professor of Education Ken Vos, Ph.D. with the development of a new environmental science course. She also assisted Dr. Mancini-Samuelson in the design of analytical chemistry curriculum funded by a National Science Foundation Grant.

Hnouchi Lochungvu is headed to medical school at the University of Minnesota in the fall. Photo by Andy Ferron.

Hnouchi Lochungvu graduates in May with a chemistry major–biochemistry concentration and she will attend the University of Minnesota Medical School next fall.

She joined Jones in Phi Beta Kappa as a junior last year, has served as a peer tutor helping fellow students with mathematics and served as a teaching assistant in Calculus II. She is active in the Asian Women’s Association and Chemistry Club.

“I was actually thinking biology and then mathematics for a while, but chemistry just clicked for me,” she says. “Mathematics is more of a hobby than a career!”

To help make decisions about career options, Lochungvu spent time shadowing numerous physicians. At HealthEast Neurovascular Institute, she worked with neuro-intensivist Dr. Tariq Janjua on a project related to long-term study of patients with cerebral vasospasm. Also at the Institute, she shadowed neurosurgeon Dr. Eric Nussbaum and Dr. Andrew Porti, a urologist with Metropolitan Urologic.

A native of Zimbabwe, Michelle Nyamushanya says the College of St. Catherine’s atmosphere was attractive to both her and her parents.

“St. Kate’s was a welcoming, friendly environment,” she says. “My parents felt that I would be safe here.”

But she also recommends to prospective Katies to not play it too safe. “Come to St. Kate’s with an open mind and don’t be afraid to experience new things and meet new people,” she says. “Networking is very important.”

Nyamushanya is co-president of SCISO, a coalition group for international students that encourages respect and understanding for cross-cultural and global backgrounds.

Working with Dunlop, she participated in research titled “Metallothionein as a Bioindicator of Freshwater Metal Pollution,” that will be presented at the Minnesota Academy of Science and Science at St. Kate’s Day April 29.

Graduating with an ACS–certified chemistry major, she wants to take a year off working in the analytical department at 3M while exploring medical schools.

What else does she recommend to fellow international students? “Bring warm clothes!”

Also from Zimbabwe, Nyasha Kanganga will also receive an ACS–certified degree this spring with Phi Beta Kappa distinction.

The winner of an Analytical Chemistry Award, she has participated in several faculty collaborations, including research with St. Kate’s Assistant Professor of Chemistry Daron Janzen, Ph.D. and Kent Mann, Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.

She also assisted Sarah Dimick-Gray from the U of M in the general chemistry for health sciences course and worked in the Assistant Mentorship program with Associate Professor of Education Bonnie Fisher, Ph.D. in the core curriculum course, The Reflective Woman.

“I am definitely going to stay in chemistry, but I am just not sure where,” she says. Completing an internship at Valspar, she now plans to work for a year as she researches graduate schools. “I really enjoy research but I learned in the AMP that I really like the light bulb moment when students get it.”

She describes her own “light–bulb” moment during The Reflective Woman.

“It was the first time in my life that someone asked who I was, not just my name,” she says. “I started to discover who I was as a person and what was my place in society and the world.

“I realized that I had a responsibility to the world and to social justice,” she says.

Describing her experience at St. Kate’s, Nyasha smiles brightly and says, “Somebody is always around to catch you just as you are about to fall! People notice you and step up to help you."