Shawn M. Curtis
Originally from Rochester, NY, Shawn arrived at Auburn University in May 2005 as part of the U.S. Navy’Äôs Seaman-to-Admiral 21 commissioning program and has since pursued a B.S. degree in chemistry. Prior to reporting to Auburn, Shawn served as a staff instructor at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, in Charleston, SC. Shawn was named the College of Science & Mathematics Outstanding Junior in Chemistry & Biochemistry in 2006, and was also recently named the 2007 Nektar Therapeutics Scholar. Following graduation, Shawn will receive his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy and report for service in the submarine force. Shawn and his wife, Sara, have two children, Kyle (2 years) and Lydia (8 months).

Roberta Ludwigsen
Teaching chemistry has allowed me to focus on encouraging students to embrace chemistry as something enjoyable, useful, and present in their daily lives. Presenting students with the opportunity to explore chemistry with items they have in their own houses makes the curriculum more relevant and reachable. Addressing the prejudices students have toward chemistry and science in general through engaging and fun activities, hopefully alter their future view of chemistry and science in general.

Teaching provides an ever changing, growing, and challenging experience which affords me the opportunity to encourage students' scientific competence and mastery. Finding and generating occasions for students to engage chemistry in a fun and useful way continues to be an ongoing process. Hopefully, students will leave my classroom knowing that they can "do" chemistry, that it makes up everything in the world around them, and that it is fun. Fundamentally, I hope students come to understand that whether learning chemistry or English, that attitude will always prevail over aptitude.