WVU Chemistry Graduate Program Visits Concord

Some of the members in American Chemical Society at Concord
Photo Courtesy of Madison Crank 

WVU Chemistry Graduate Program visited Concord University, February 8, to provide an insightful experience for students interested in the natural sciences to learn about their application process and more. Dr. Justin Legleiter, Director of Graduate Studies for the West Virginia Department of Chemistry at WVU discussed the information concerning the program. Madison Crank, president of Concord University’s chapter of the American Chemical Society (CUACS), organized the event to give students interested in chemistry a better understanding of the details a graduate program entails.

    Crank explains the interest associated with WVU’s Chemistry Graduate Program amongst the members of CUACS. “Several members of the club expressed interest in WVU’s Chemistry Graduate Program, so I arranged to have Dr. Legleiter come for their own benefit,” she says. She also goes on to outline the success of the programs WVU offers by saying, “WVU’s research facilities have obtained the highest ranking (R1), so that speaks to the high quality of WVU’s graduate programs, especially for the programs that relate to chemistry.” In her opinion, the WVU research faculty seem to care about their graduate students, making them fully dedicated in preparing their students to achieve successful careers post-graduation.

    In organizing the event, Crank assumed responsibility in getting Dr. Legleiter to visit the university. “I got a phone number off WVU’s Graduate Admissions website and talked to the secretary, who directed me to [the] interim program director. [She] got me in contact with Justin Legleiter, who agreed to come give his presentation at a time that was best for CUACS,” she states.

    In her opinion, this event was important to students because they need to learn exactly what they must do to apply to the programs they are interested in. Not only that, but students form important contacts by interacting with the graduate school representatives by letting the students get to know them. Crank says, “Just knowing someone from the graduate school goes a long way when one is applying to graduate programs because the admissions committee members are able to put a name to a face as they consider whether or not to accept [them] into their program.”

    Crank says that, in her opinion, Dr. Legleiter gave a great presentation. He outlined the different opportunities there are at WVU’s graduate programs and even relayed several impressive stories of past laboratory students who now have prestigious jobs in their respective fields.
    WVU’s R1 ranking speaks high volumes for their chemistry programs. In outlining the graduate chemistry program, catalog.wvu.edu states, “The graduate programs in the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry provide rigorous training in chemistry. The central mission of the Graduate Program is to train the next generation of Chemists for productive careers in the global community.” It goes on to outline the major learning goals, saying that students involved with the program learn to understand ethical impacts of personal and professional behavior, demonstrate the ability to understand and critically evaluate published literature within their field, and so much more.

    When asked if more graduate programs will potentially be involved at Concord University through CUACS, Crank says this isn’t the end. “Next semester we will probably schedule more graduate school representatives to come give talks about their graduate programs,” she says. It seems as if inquiring of future educational experience is important to Crank and important for her to get students involved.