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Roseann K. Sachs, Ph.D.

Department Chair; Professor of Chemistry

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rsachs@messiah.edu

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717-766-2511, ext. 2043

Interest and areas of expertise

Organic chemistry, green chemistry, biotransformation reactions, ecocatalysis, use of ionic liquids as new, green solvents for organic chemistry

Education
  • B.A. Chemistry and Music-Piano Performance (Bethel University, MN)
  • Ph.D. Chemistry (University of Minnesota)
Classes I teach
  • Organic Chemistry I (lecture and lab) (CHEM 309)
  • Organic Chemistry II (lecture and lab) (CHEM 310)
  • Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHEM 409)
  • Introductory College Chemistry (CHEM 101)
  • General Chemistry (CHEM 105)
  • Research Methods (CHEM 393)
  • Mentor undergraduate research students
Profile

Professor Sachs is originally from Minnesota, where she endured harsh winters and enjoyed the Minnesota Vikings and Twins! Her undergraduate degree is from Bethel University, where she majored in chemistry, and later added in a double major in Piano Performance. Following college, she worked for two years in the quality control lab of a local pharmaceutical company. Her Ph.D. is in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota. She then spent ten years teaching at Colorado College, in Colorado Springs. She came to Messiah College in 2003 as Chair of the new Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, a role she has served in since. Her most recent sabbatical was spent at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, in Cambodia, where she served as an advisor to the chemistry department, mentored a student research project and taught a laboratory course in green chemistry to all the junior chemistry majors. Since that opportunity, she has brought two groups of students to Cambodia for January term cross-cultural experiences.

Awards

Awards
Robert and Marilyn Smith Teaching Excellence Award 2008

Presentations
“Electrophilic Addition to Alkenes in Ionic Liquids” by Micah Ohlhausen* and Roseann K. Sachs, presented at the Spring National American Chemical Society Meeting, New   Orleans, LA, March 17-21, 2018

“Biocatalytic Reduction of Ketones and Imines: Syntheis of 3,4-Dihydro-b-carbolines to be Reduced by Carrots,” by Anthony Bogetti* and Roseann K. Sachs, presented at the 253rd National American Chemical Society Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 2-6, 2017