Richard A. Paselk, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Chemistry

Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521

EDUCATION

• University of Southern California, Ph.D., Biochemistry (1975). Dissertation Topic: ¹⁹F-NMR studies of Trifluoroacetylated Insulin Derivatives. Advisor: Dr. Daniel Levy.
• California State University, Los Angeles, B.S., Biophysics (1968).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Professor, Chemistry Department, HSU (9/76–; Full Professor, 9/86–2010; Professor Emeritus, FERP Program, 2010–):
• Current and Past HSU Teaching Responsibilities: Biochemistry (incl. Advanced & Lab); General and Introductory Chemistry; Toxicology; Environmental Chemistry; Introductory Organic Chemistry; Analytical Chemistry; Chemical Instrumentation; Science Education (K-8), Clinical Chemistry.
• Chemistry Department, CSU Long Beach (9/74–8/76): Instructor.
• Chair, Nursing Department (0.5), HSU (1/2009–5/2010). Selected accomplishments:
  • Lead department during completion of CCNE Accreditation process and Site visit.
  • Lead department in successful tenure-track faculty hire; chaired multiple search committees.
  • Lead department in Chair/Director search and successful hire; chaired search committee.
  • Lead department through successful defense against program elimination (Sp. 2010)
  • Taught Nurs 495, Introduction to Research & Scholarship for Professional Nursing Practice, 2009-10 AY as overload.
• Chair, Chemistry Department (0.5), HSU (8/95–8/2004, 8/86–8/89). Selected accomplishments:
• Curricular Initiatives:
• Designed, wrote, submitted and implemented two degree-options: an ACS approved B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.S. in Environmental Toxicology.
• Lead redesign of the Chemistry B.A., bringing it into closer correspondence with U.C. degree patterns.
• Lead design and implementation of the Chemical Technology Chemistry B.A. option.
• Developed four-year graduation and transfer plans.
• Space and Facilities:
• Science A Modification committee member—design, blueprints, construction, etc. (1979–87).
• Modified facilities to make glassblowing and IBM Surface Chemistry labs at HSU.
• Co-designed & installed Chemistry department distributed computational labs.
• Building coordinator, HSU Science A (1996–2004).
• Program Evaluation/Accreditation:
• Wrote two Chemistry Dept. program reviews (1996, 2003). The 1996 review modeled a new format.
• Conducted two American Chemical Society Five-Year certification reviews (1998, 2003).
• Wrote Chemistry Department assessment policies in light of local and state assessment conferences.
• Initiated and conducted Chemistry graduation exit interviews (2001–2004).
• Miscellaneous:
• Created web-based Chemistry advising pages for native and transfer students.
• Webmaster for Chemistry department web site, providing regular updates (1997–2004, 2007–2008).
• Initiated and wrote Chemistry Department annual newsletter (2000–).
• Lead department in four permanent hires, chairing all search committees.
• Founder and founding donor & initaiating fund raiser, annual Humboldt Chemistry Research Scholarship/Humboldt Chemistry Scholarship.
• Extensive work with disabled student services to accommodate students in chemistry.
• CSU Computational Chemistry Council President 1998-2000, member 1984–c. 2001 (the CCC was dissolved c. 2001 having accomplished its goals).
• Chair, co-organizer and webmaster, CSU Computational Chemistry Council Conference (July 8-10, 1999).
• Co-Chair and webmaster, 1^st-5^th CNRS Annual New & Used Poster Session (1999–2004).
• Curricular Activities
• General Education:
• Chair, College of Science G.E. Committee (1986).
• Lead the creation and initial implementation of the current Area B G.E. program.
• Developed Area B G.E. guidelines based on CSU documents.
• Created guidelines for new G.E. courses.
• Evaluated all initial‘semester’ Area B G.E. courses.
• Member: GE Reform Steering Comm. (Sp 2005), Summer GE Work Group (2003), Strategic Plan All University Curriculum focus group (F 2003).
• Instructor/developer, EDGE Program (freshmen orientation program/class), HSU (1984-86).
• Technology Mediated Instruction:
• Project Director/Principle Investigator and founder of a chemistry and foreign languages multimedia development group of faculty and technologists (1988-95). Our projects used advanced visualization and high interactivity with visual & audio feedback. We were recognized leaders in developing high quality, innovative products pushing the technological envelope to explore new avenues of instruction, while being sensitive to gender and disabilities.
• Directed a programmer/designer and a team of consultants (1992-95).
• Wrote State, Federal and corporate grants/gifts for $400k+ (1988-95).
• Disseminated the results of our multimedia projects at local, state and national conferences.
• Completed a series of commercially published software products in chemistry.
• Represented group in negotiations with publishers and discussions with intellectual property attorney.
• Course web-sites: Sp97–, ten courses, up to 6^th ed; syl., sched., lecture notes, sample exams, etc.
• Three interactive web exercises posted on MERLOT, two others in preparation.
• Co-PI, NSF funded projects introducing computer modeling across HSU chemistry curriculum.
• Faculty member & consultant, Veteran’s Math Science Initiative at HSU (1992-95, 1999–2006).
• Safety and Emergency Management
  • Lead the development of the Chemistry Department Safety program.
• Initiated current safety program with a two-day workshop lead by an outside chemical safety consultant.
• Lead the creation of department safety regulations, safety quizzes, etc. Products used as campus models.
• Helped instigate and develop the CNRS Hazmat technician position.
• Co-wrote the position description, interviewed and recommended the hire.
• Trained and supervised this position as an overload (Su 1998–F 2004).
• Helped create Science A and Chemistry department SAFE Plans (2003).
• Member, HSU Emergency Preparedness Committee (F 2004–)
• Interdisciplinary Activities:
• Program Leader, Interdisciplinary Studies, HSU (1983-85)
• Technical facilitator for Japanese Tea Ceremony class for Prof. L. Fulton, HSU (1980–2001).
• Co-Instructor, “Science & Civilization in China & the West” (Hist 391, 4u w/ L. Fulton, F 1984).
• Advisory board member, Horai Center for the Study of Pacific Cultures (2004–).
• Expanding Your Horizons (presenter, coordinator, helper etc., HSU, 1985–).
• Delegate, CSU Cornerstones Academic Conference (Monterey, CA, 1997).
• Guest lecturer for courses in history, interdisciplinary studies, mathematics, science for elementary ed., biology and physics.
• Elderhostel (HSU, 1982-88). Overviews of: 1) Evolution of the Universe, 2) Chemistry, 3) History of science and technology.
• Photographer—fossils, animals, people, etc. in dozens of educational publications and websites.
• Museum Work: (See List below)
• HSU Chemistry Department Scientific Instrument Museum. (http//www.humboldt.edu/scimus)
• Webmaster/author, 1997–. The hyperlinked virtual museum is illustrated with original photos and scanned images.
• Appointed Curator (1998–).
• Renamed as Robert A. Paselk Scientific Instrument Museum and web site completely reworked (Su 2000).
• Installed Robert A. Paselk Scientific Instrument Museum, HSU Library (F 2000).
  • Lead designer and Founding Donor for library displays.
• HSU Natural History Museum. (http//www.humboldt.edu/natmus)
• Advisory Board member (1996-2010) Chair, (2001–3).
• Webmaster (exhibits pages), HSU Natural History Museum (1996–).
• Created extensive web exhibits (>500 original photos) in a hyperlinked environment.
• Researched, wrote, designed, fabricated and installed Precambrian exhibit and web pages.
• Provide general shop work, mounting, design and installation for exhibits.
• Appointed Associate Curator (Sp 2005–).
• North Coast Natural History Museum Association, Board Member (2010-present).
• Medieval Science & Scientific Instruments web site.  (http://users.humboldt.edu/rpaselk/EarlySciInstSite/EarlyInstSite.htm)
• Instrument re-creations I have researched and made are illustrated and discussed.
• Notes for lectures and instructions for re-creation “kits” used in workshops are posted.
• Funded Grants (list):
• Principle investigator for seventeen funded grants and/or gifts for a total of: $464 k, including: National Science Foundation DUE Grant: "Visualization of the Abstract in General Chemistry" (1992-95, $304.5 k); "Molecular and Reactivity Modeling for Improved Undergraduate Education and Research in Chemistry" (1993-96, $17.5 k); California State Lottery Projects (Instructional Innovation and Curriculum Development categories): "Interactive Animated Learning Modules in Chemistry" (Fall 1988, $18.9 k).
• Co-Principle Investigator for six funded grants and/or gifts for a total of: $747 k, including: National Science Foundation-CCLI-A&I Grant: "Molecular Modeling and Computational Chemistry in the Undergraduate Curriculum" (1999-2002, $93.8 k), and National Science Foundation ILI Grant: "FT-NMR for Improved Undergraduate Instruction and Research" (1991-93, $88.5 k).
• Consulting:
• Member, NSF special panel on future directions for the DUE grants programs (1997).
• NSF Grant Reviewer/Panel Member (1994, 1996, 1997).
• Reviewer, biochemistry & chemistry texts and monographs, various publishers (1980–).
• Concrete Treatment Analysis, Turelk Inc. (Jan. 1995-June 1996).

PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, DISPLAYS, ETC. (lists):

• Over twenty research/scholarly publications/presentations.
• Twenty-eight chemical education publications/presentations.
• Eight commercially published educational software packages and one educational video (VHS).
• Three presentations to corporate groups.
• Thirteen published book reviews of texts and monographs.
• Over thirty Museum Displays, Web museums (including text, photos, etc.), Installations, etc.
• Over seventy public presentations, workshops, etc.
• Over thirty photographs published in books, magazines, pamphlets, etc. (over 100 original photos on reviewed non-HSU www sites).

PROFESSIONAL AFILLIATIONS

American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Association of Museums; American Chemical Society; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society; Scientific Instrument Commission, Division of History of Science, International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science.

BIOGRAPHICAL LISTINGS

Listed in over twenty biographical resources, including: American Men and Women of Science, International Who’s Who in Education, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in American Education.

HOBBIES/INTERESTS

Antique tools and scientific instruments; history of science, the interface of the artistic, crafts, and scientific traditions; wood and metal-working; home repair and restoration; science fiction.

Last modified 5 November 2012