You want to teach chemistry.
JBU will prepare you to excel in the classroom and the lab.
In the chemistry education major, you will have access to state-of-the-art labs, practical in-classroom hours, and world-class faculty to guide you to your dream job of teaching chemistry.
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Work with Accessible Professors
JBU students work one-on-one with JBU professors and experience true mentorship from their very first semester.
Learn from Experience
JBU students teach almost double the amount of time of other student-teaching programs. Mentor teachers know that JBU students’ education has prepared them to handle their classroom.
Enjoy Licensure Transfer
JBU’s program is accredited in such a way that allows students to transfer their teaching license easily across states.
Meet the Chemistry Education professors
Tricia Hahn
Adjunct Instructor, Chemistry
An adjunct instructor in the Chemistry department, Mrs. Hahn teaches both Fundamentals of Chemistry and General Chemistry labs. Hahn holds an American Chemical Society certified B.S. in Chemistry from Northeast Missouri State University.
Brian Herndon
Associate Professor of Teacher Education
Dr. Brian Herndon has been in education for over 20 years. He has served as a classroom teacher in Kindergarten, 1st grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade. He has also served as an elementary principal, elementary assistant principal, and the director of an early childhood special education preschool, where he served as a Local Education Authority (LEA) for hundreds of special education IEP meetings. As a classroom teacher, he developed a special interest in the teaching of reading and language arts and has studied extensively in these areas. Dr. Herndon’s experience in education is complimented by the fact that he is the father of four children, one of whom has Down syndrome. So, education is not just a professional calling for him, it is a personal calling as well.
Susan Newton
Department Chair, Chemistry
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Susan Newton served as faculty at John Brown University from 1991 to 1994 and returned to teaching in 2005. Dr. Newton's courses include Organic Chemistry class, Earth Science, Physical Science, Inorganic Chemistry and Biochemistry classes.
Dr. Newton was drawn to the study of Chemistry because of the incredible evidence of design. As she continues learning in the field she more deeply affirms that what exists in nature did not come about by random coincidence.
The classroom is not just a place of work for Dr. Newton, but a place to fulfill a calling in her life. She appreciates that other professors in the division also see their position as something more than just a job.
To make learning chemistry fun, Dr. Newton incorporates practicality and competition to keep her students attention. She applies the principals of chemistry to things they will see in daily life, and creates competition through drills that require students to recall information taught in class.
Melissa Michael
Associate Professor of Math Education, Director of Professional Development School
Mrs. Melissa Michael has a passion for making mathematics understandable and enjoyable. Outside of the classroom, she loves to serve the community and participate in short-term missions.
Jill Ellenbarger
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
In 2015, Dr. Jill Ellenbarger joined the Division of Natural Science as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. Dr. Ellenbarger teaches General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Fundamentals of Chemistry, and Physical Science. Through teaching and research, she engages with her students to help them expand their understanding and love of chemistry and to encourage them to consider the integration of their faith and study of science.
As a professor of chemistry, she is inspired by her love for architecture and supramolecular chemistry. Dr. Ellenbarger has enjoyed leading a student research team in designing urea-based receptors to selectively identify anionic water contaminants. She delights in mentoring students as they learn to solve these challenges using computational chemistry methods.
When not in the classroom, Dr. Ellenbarger appreciates anything that involves creativity, ice cream, and the outdoors.
Jamie Collins
Assistant Professor, Teacher Education
Curtis Cunningham
Chair, Teacher Education and Graduate Education
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Dr. Curtis Cunningham holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with emphasis in Early Childhood from Southwest Baptist University, a Masters in Education with emphasis in Gifted Education from Drury University and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Gifted Education from the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville. At JBU, he is responsible for teaching classes related to classroom management, curriculum design, differentiated instruction and human development for students in the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Prior to coming to JBU, Dr. Cunningham worked for fourteen years in private and public schools. He has experience teaching Kindergarten, third and fourth grade in the regular classroom and teaching second and fifth grades in a program for gifted and talented students. He supported early-career teachers for six years as an instructional specialist before coming to JBU. He is excited to bring his expertise in curriculum design and differentiated instruction to JBU as we prepare the next generation of educators.
Kimberly Murie
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Dr. Kimberly Murie joined the Department of Teacher Education at John Brown in 2015. Dr. Murie earned a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Arkansas. After teaching science in two large public high schools for over ten years and serving as a department chair for eight years, God opened the door for Dr. Murie to resume the role of student herself. She returned to school to fulfill a lifelong dream of being an educator of teachers. Dr. Murie graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2015, earning a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Science Education.
Working in a public school setting for many years has given Dr. Murie a passion into the importance of having Christian educators engaged in public education. It is a great honor and privilege to be able to instruct and encourage future educators on how they can be the hands and feet of Christ to a student, a classroom, and a community.
