Can a degree in chemistry provide you with the right mix of elements for a rewarding job?

Three leaders in the chemistry field will discuss the value of a chemistry degree as part of the C. Eugene and Edna P. Bennett Careers for Chemists Program at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, in Durrett Hall of the Erickson Alumni Center, West Virginia University’s Evansdale Campus.

This year’s speakers:

  • E. Ann Nalley, president, American Chemical Society. She is currently a professor of chemistry in the Physical Science department at Cameron University in Oklahoma. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Oklahoma State University, her master’s in analytical chemistry from Oklahoma State University and her doctorate in radiation chemistry from Texas Women’s University.
  • Stephen Traynellis, associate professor, department of pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine. He received a doctorate from the University of North Carolina and has been a postdoctoral fellow at University College in London and at the Salk Institute.
  • Thomas Brettell, director, Office of Forensic Sciences, New Jersey State Police. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Drew University, a master’s degree in Chemistry from Lehigh University and his doctorate in Analytical Chemistry from Villanova University. He has worked for the New Jersey State Police Forensic Science Bureau for nearly 30 years.

The Bennett Careers for Chemists Program, in its 12th year, brings professionals to WVU to talk with students about traditional and nontraditional career opportunities for students with degrees in chemistry.

C. Eugene Bennett and his widow, Edna Bennett Pierce, established the program in 1994 with a $1.6 million endowment. Bennett, who died in 1996, was a successful businessman and WVU alumnus. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1949 and a master’s degree in organic chemistry in 1951.

The Bennett name will continue to represent an enduring philosophy of dedication and vision for future generations of chemistry students at WVU . In honor of the family’s generosity, the Department of Chemistry in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences was named the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry in April 2004.