Biographical Text
Associate Professor Emerita of Chemistry Claire Olander (August 12, 1942-) was born in Minnesota. She is married to Dr. Donald P. Olander, a retired college professor, and they have three children. Olander received her B.A. degree in chemistry, with a minor in German, from the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1964. She earned her Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1971. Dr. Olander joined the faculty at Appalachian State University in September 1976 as a part-time assistant professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences. She received tenure in 1994 and was promoted to associate professor of chemistry in 1996. While at Appalachian State, Dr. Olander was the laboratory coordinator and lecturer for Introductory Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, Physical Science I and II, Biochemistry, Contemporary Chemistry, and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry. She also was the academic advisor for chemistry majors and for student teachers obtaining a secondary school teaching degree in chemistry. Dr. Olander held workshops for elementary, middle, and high school teachers of chemistry and physical science. She was involved with the Stimmer Science Camp for Gifted and Talented Junior High and High School Students and with the Summer Ventures in mathematics and science. Dr. Olander's professional memberships include the American Chemical Society, Division of Chemical Education; Sigma Xi; the Scientific Research Society; Iota Sigma Pi; Women in Science Society; Phi Beta Kappa; and Kappa Gamma Pi. The following papers have been presented by Dr. Olander: "Lecture Demonstrations for Organic Chemistry" at the Organic Teaching Symposium, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, May 1993; "A Nine-Bottle Type Lab Exercise with No Heavy Metal Waste," at the Thirteenth Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, August 1994, and "Science in the Studios: A Bridge Between the Two Cultures," at the sixteenth Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, July 2000, also, Dr. Olander has published these works: • "Ann-Bottle Lab Exercise With No Hazardous Waste," Journal of Chemical Education, 73, 849 (1996). • Laboratory experiments for Physical Science, Introductory Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Contemporary Chemistry. Dr. Olander retired in December 2001 and was granted emerita status by the Board of Trustees. She and her husband, Dr. Donald Olander, reside in Boone, North Carolina. Sources: Appalachian State University files. -Dr. Kay R. Dickson
Comments