Service Learning and Environmental Chemistry: Relevant Connections

Elizabeth Roberts-Kirchhoff is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Detroit Mercy. Her research interests include the mechanism of action of cytochrome P450 enzymes; the analysis of metals in food and health supplements including kelp, clay, and protein powders; and the analysis of pesticides in water.Roberts-Kirchhoff received a B.S. in Chemistry from Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from the University of Michigan. After postdoctoral research at Wayne State University and The University of Michigan,she joined the faculty at the University of Detroit Mercy in 1997.Matthew Mio is an Associate Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His research focuses on new transition metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Projects include exploring both the mechanism and synthetic capabilities of these reactions, with particular emphasis on the generation of phenylacetylenes for use in nanoelectronics and supramolecular chemistry. He is also interested in studying the pedagogy of organic chemistry.Mio holds a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Detroit Mercy and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was awarded a Mellon Fellowship to perform post-doctoral research andteaching at Macalester College (St. Paul, MN). Mio joined UDM's faculty in 2002.Mark Benvenuto is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Detroit Mercy, in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. His research thrusts span a wide array of subjects, but include the use of energy dispersive X-rayfluorescence spectroscopy to determine trace elemental compositions of aquatic and land-based plant matter, food and dietary supplements, and medieval and ancient artifacts. Benvenuto received a B.S. in chemistry from the Virginia Military Institute, and after several years in the Army, a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Virginia. After a post-doctoral fellowship at The Pennsylvania State University, he joined the faculty at the University of Detroit Mercy in1993.