Jerry Atwood, longtime chemistry professor, honored
Sept. 5, 2008
Professor Jerry Atwood wasn't the only one to benefit from his most recent accolade. According to his colleagues, the entire chemistry department and university gained prestige and honor as well.
Research projects are "what puts the University of Missouri in a very small, elite category of universities," said Mike O'Brien, dean of the College of Arts and Science.
Atwood, a curators' professor and chemistry department chairman, was honored by having an issue of The New Journal of Chemistry dedicated to his lifelong work in the field. Curators' professors are the highest rank of professors in the UM system.
Atwood said he considers the honor important because of its origins.
"It's particularly meaningful because the people who dedicated the issue are friends, colleagues and past students from around the world," he said.
His accomplishments as a researcher are top-notch, O'Brien said.
"Dr. Atwood has an h-index of 75," O'Brien said. "That means he's written 75 papers, each of which have been cited a minimum of 75 times."
Also, of the 2,000 American chemists who have published more than 50 journal articles, Atwood ranks 82nd, O'Brien said.
Because of research efforts like Atwood's, MU is one of 34 public institutions in the Association of American Universities. The AAU is composed of the country's major research universities.
"That's what students come for, top-notch faculty," O'Brien said. "They are writing the papers that are zooming the field into the future. And Jerry Atwood is one of those (professors)."
Graduate student Cheryl Ragan said professors like Atwood are the reason MU attracts so many students each year.
"Having him and great professors like him bring in more people with outstanding minds," Ragan said.
Fellow graduate student Andy Maerz said he was drawn to MU after hearing Atwood speak at his undergraduate school. In addition to being a well-known researcher in the lab, Atwood also excels as a teacher, Maerz said.
"He has the knowledge and is able to explain chemistry and get you excited for it even without a (student) having extensive knowledge in the area," Maerz said.
Maerz said he thinks Atwood's success as a teacher and researcher has helped bring recognition to the university.
"It's great to be known as a great football school," Maerz said, "But it's also great to be known as one of the leaders for supramolecular chemistry too."
Senior Andy Mossine said Atwood's teaching style has helped him improve his grades.
"His methods of teaching are completely different," Mossine said. "He doesn't lecture. He propagates thought and forces you to think."
Atwood said he believes giving his students freedom with their research will help further their progression in their field.
"Students then feel at the cutting edge of science and capable of making discoveries," Atwood said. "And they do."
Whether students are majoring in engineering, education or economics, O'Brien said students across campus benefit from professors like Atwood.
"People may have never heard of Jerry Atwood," O'Brien said. "But I guarantee you they are better off because he's on this campus because of the attention he brings to the university. Everyone benefits from that."
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