Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D. Chemistry, North Carolina State University
B.S. Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
Mission & Passion
To inspire people to “… seek first the kingdom of God …” (Matthew 6:33) so we are able to receive His blessings and dwell in His presence.
Chemistry is in everything, from our bodies, to the food that we eat and the air that we breathe. My passion is to encourage students to study the world around them and to apply their knowledge for the benefit of mankind. In doing this we obey God’s word (Genesis 1:26 and Proverbs 3:5-6).
Inspiring Verse/Quotation
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. Albert Einstein
“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Proverbs 18:15
In Genesis, God revealed to us the creation of the world and our role as stewards of nature. He gives us the ability to explore and understand the world around us; this is the basic integration of science and faith.
Courses
Fundamentals General/Organic Chemistry
General Chemistry I/II
Organic Chemistry I/II
Quantitative Chemical Analysis
Instrumental Methods in Chemistry
Physical Chemistry I/II
Chemistry Seminar & Scientific Writing
College Algebra
Math Survey
Topics of Interest
Biopolymers
Mesoporous and Microporous structures – catalysts or molecular sieves
NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) – analytical method
Select Publications/Presentations
Rovira-Truitt, R.; Patil, N.; Castillo, F.; White, J. L. Synthesis and
Characterization of Biopolymer Composites from the Inside Out,
Macromolecules 2009, 42 (20), 7772-7780
Truitt, M. J.; Rovira-Truitt, R.; Toporek, S.; White, J. L. Alkane C-H Bond
Activation in Zeolites: Evidence for Direct Protium Exchange J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 2006, 128, 1847-1852
Truitt, M.; Toporek, S.; Rovira-Hernandez, R.; Hatcher, K.; White, J. L.
Identification of an Adsorption Complex Between an Alkane and Zeolite
Active Sites J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 11144
2008 Fall National Meeting of the American Chemical Society; New Orleans, LA
2008 NanoFocus & NSF EPSCoR; Oklahoma City, OK
2006 Annual Symposium of the Southeastern Catalysis Society; Asheville, NC
2005 Annual Department of Chemistry’s Poster Session, NCSU
2004 Spring National Meeting of the American Chemical Society; Anaheim, CA