Faculty & Staff
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David M. Bartley, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, teaches organic chemistry. His research focuses on the design and synthesis of new phosphorus containing peptides for use as anitbiotic and anticancer agents. He is particularly interested in identifying new targets for antimicrobial chemotherapy and in developing new strategies for synthesizing carbon-phosphorus bonds. Bartley holds a B.S. from Alma College and a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Michigan. He performed post-doctoral research at Johns Hopkins University prior to joining the University in 2007 |
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Mark A. Benvenuto, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry, and Department Chairman, Dr. Benvenuto teaches all levels of general chemistry, as well as: inorganic chemistry, organometallic chemistry and industrial chemistry. He continues to write pedagogical materials for general level chemistry courses. He is currently performing research in three areas: first, the synthesis of highly multi-dentate ligands for metal complexes, water remediation, and possible use as molecular switches; second, the metallurgical analysis of copper-based artifacts; and third, the production of ethanol from cellulosic biomass. Benvenuto is a six-time recipient of the UDM Science Teacher of the Year Award, and is one of two faculty named College Teacher of the Year for 2002-03 by the Michigan Science Teachers Association. He was awarded the American Chemical Society's Detroit Section Distinguished Service Award in 2004, and has been the section chairman for 2006 and 2007. Benvenuto holds a B.S. from the Virginia Military Institute, where he attended on a four-year Army scholarship, and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where he was awarded a graduate student du Pont Fellowship. He performed post-doctoral research at the Pensnsylvania State University, and joined the University in late 1993. Phone: (313) 993-1184 | Fax: (313) 993-1144 |
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Mary Lou Caspers, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry, teaches basic and advanced biochemistry and general chemistry laboratory. Caspers publications and presentations deal with alterations in brain proteins as a function of aging and with the effects of metal ions such as aluminum on various enzymes in the blood, liver and brain; she is the author of over 20 papers in refereed journals. Caspers is the recipient of the 2004 Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Educator of the Year, University of Detroit Mercy 2001 Distinguished Faculty Award, Presidents Award for Faculty Excellence and the Engineering and Science Teacher of the Year Award, as well as a number of research grants. Caspers received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Detroit, and a Ph. D. in Biochemistry from Wayne State University School of Medicine. She joined the University in 1977.
Phone: (313) 993-1196 | Fax: (313) 993-1144 |
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Elizabeth Roberts-Kirchhoff, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, teaches Chemistry for Allied Health majors and Biochemistry. Her research focuses on the cytochrome P450 enzymes and their mechanism of action and role in the metabolism of drugs and natural products. Particular emphasis is on plant compounds that are cancer chemopreventive agents whose mode of action may include their interaction with the cytochrome P450 enzymes. 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 in 1997. Phone: (313) 993-1021 | Fax: (313) 993-1144 |
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Katherine C. Lanigan,Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, teaches analytical chemistry courses, including quantitative analysis and instrumental analysis, as well as general chemistry for science and engineering students and general, organic, and biochemistry for Allied Health majors. Lanigan’s research utilizes both analytical and physical chemistry for the study of adsorbed chemical species at the liquid/solid interface of metal oxide thin films. Attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is primarily used in these investigations. Specifically, a flow-through ATR cell is used for in situ studies of aqueous solutions. Lanigan received a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Dayton and a Ph.D. degree in chemistry from the University of Iowa. She joined the University in 1998. Phone: (313) 993-1569 | Fax: (313) 993-1144 |
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Matthew J. Mio, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, teaches organic chemistry. 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. Mio is also interested in introductory and organic chemistry curriculum development, as well as the philosophical unification of physical, chemical and biological science in education. Mio holds a B.S. from the University of Detroit Mercy and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He performed post-doctoral research and teaching at Macalester College (St. Paul, MN) where he was awarded a Mellon Fellowship. He joined the University in 2002. Phone: (313) 993-1188 | Fax: (313) 993-1144 |
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Shulamith Schlick, Ph.D. Professor of Physical Chemistry, teaches graduate and undergraduate Physical and Polymer Chemistry (lecture and laboratory). Her research interests include morphology, phase separation, and self-assembly in ion-containing polymers and nonionic polymeric surfactants; electron spin resonance imaging (ESRI) of transport processes in polymer solutions, hydrogels and polymer-supported catalytic systems; degradation and stabilization processes in polymers studied by ESR and ESRI, and transport of solvents through elastomers and glassy polymers. Dr. Schlick received her D.Sc. from Technion, Israel institute of technology in 1963. She has held visiting professorships and appointments worldwide and has authored over 200 scientific articles, one book and several book chapters. Phone: (313) 993-1012 | Fax: (313) 993-1144 |
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Jonathon E. Stevens, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of physical chemistry and teaches physical chemistry, freshman introductory chemistry and chemistry for non-science majors. His research program focuses on the use of quantum-mechanical molecular orbital calculations to study the kinetics and mechanisms of atmospheric reactions. Dr Stevens received B.S. degrees in chemistry and mathematics from Miami University (of Ohio) and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Chicago. He has completed postdoctoral studies with Professor Keiji Morokuma at Emory University in Atlanta, and has taught freshman chemistry at Truman State University in Missouri. Dr. Stevens joined the faculty in 1998. Phone: (313) 993-1048 | Fax: (313) 993-1144 |
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Bob Ross, Ph.D. Professor of Physics, teaches general and advanced physics courses. Ross’ publications and presentations deal with photovoltaic energy conversion and physics education research; he is the author of over 20 papers. His research and publications in the field of amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells helped lead to the development of more efficient solar panels. Ross is the recipient of the College of Engineering and Science’s 2000 Engineering Teacher of the Year Award. Ross received a B.S. in Physics and a Ph.D. in Physics from Wayne State University. He joined the University in 1995. Phone: (313) 993-1480 | Fax: (313) 993-1144 |
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E. Prasad Venugopal, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Physics, teaches general physics courses and laboratories for engineering, life science and architecture students. He has published papers in theoretical atomic and particle physics. His recent research deals with chiral anomalies in photon-hadron interactions. He holds a M.Sc. (tech) degree in Computer Science from the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, India, a M.S. in Physics from Utah State University, and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He joined the University in 1998. Phone: (313) 993-1481 | Fax: (313) 993-1144 |
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Jane Schley Departmental Administrative Assistant Phone: (313) 993-1258 Email: schleyja@udmercy.edu |
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Meghann Mouyanis
Meghann Mouyianis holds a BS degree in Chemistry from UDM and is certified to teach high school chemistry and physics. She has taught in programs such as the Detroit Area Pre-College and Engineering Program and has been a judge with the Science and Engineering Fair of Metropolitan Detroit and FIRST Lego League. She was also a mentor for FIRST high school robotics. She is currently chair of the Younger Chemists Committee of the Detroit Local Section of the American Chemical Society and is working on her MS in Chemistry and conducting research at UDM.
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