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Chemistry Professor’s Grant Gives Claremont High
Chemistry Teacher
Chance to Get into Lab and Improve Her Curriculum
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While many people relax on their summer vacation, Claremont
High School teacher Cheryl Peauroi has spent the summer in a
Pomona College chemistry lab conducting research on the
anti-tumor agent epoxyquinol, which inhibits the formation
of blood vessels in tumors. Working with Pomona College
senior Celeo “Danny” Solis, she updated her lab skills,
studying and synthesizing new organic compounds, conducting
computational analysis and using NMR spectroscopy.
The research opportunity for Peauroi came from Daniel J.
O'Leary, an associate professor of chemistry at Pomona
College, who received a $105,000 grant from the Camille and
Henry Dreyfus Scholar/Fellow Program for Undergraduate
Institutions that included a supplement for mentoring a
local teacher. Having heard wonderful things about Peauroi
from students and their parents, he asked her to
participate.
Peauroi, who has taught at CHS for three years, majored in
molecular biology as an undergraduate student at the
University of California, Riverside, and enjoyed being back
in the lab. “It was good professional development,” said
Peauroi who likes to keep busy during the summer months. “It
allowed me to participate in current research and to
experience the college environment. It also let me know how
I need to prepare my students. I was impressed with how
experienced Danny and the other students are in the lab.”
The experience also enabled her to make contacts throughout
the school’s chemistry faculty.
Peauroi’s goal is to use the knowledge and skills gained
this summer to enhance her students learning. As an added
bonus, the grant provides $1,000 for curriculum development
supplies, “almost triple the normal funding particularly in
the face of budget cuts every year,” explains an elated
Peauroi. “Chemicals for 180 students per day in lab get
expensive.” She also hopes that at least some of her
students will be able to visit Pomona for themselves and get
experience with NMR spectroscopy, gas chromotography or
other equipment. “I have a lot of students that would love
that kind of challenge.”
For O’Leary, the grant provided the opportunity to gain
insight into high school science education. “It’s been
really illuminating for me to learn about the constraints
and limitations faced at the high school level, he says.
“From all I hear, she’s doing a wonderful job. And it’s
clear to me after working with her, why students change
their schedules to take her classes.”
Solis, the senior who worked with Peauroi, also learned a
great deal from their relationship. “She’s definitely
different from my high school teachers,” he says with a
grin. “It’s cool to see a science teacher I can relate to,
someone closer to my own age.” Solis, who is an American
Chemical Society scholar and has taught in an Upward Bound
program, is considering teaching as a career option. “She’s
got a lot of great ideas about how to interest students
including an October ‘Spooktacular,’ where they catch things
on fire to spark student interest in chemistry … I’ve
learned a lot about kids and teaching from talking to her.”
In the lab, Solis and Peauroi are developing new methods for
detecting hydrogen bonds, with the ultimate goal of to
providing other chemists with a "chemical ruler" for
measuring the strength of hydrogen bonds. In collaboration
with researchers at Boston University, their method has
already been applied to studies of a promising new
anti-tumor drug, epoxyquinol.
O’Leary joined Pomona’s faculty in 1994 and teaches courses
in organic chemistry, chirality, organic synthesis, and
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy at Pomona
College. He focuses his research on developing new methods
for determining the solution conformation of molecules and
has involved many students in his work. Students in his
laboratory synthesize target compounds designed to mimic
motifs found in nature.
Since arriving at Pomona, O’Leary has received two Pomona
Wig Distinguished Professor Awards for excellence in
teaching, which are determined by a vote of the junior and
senior classes; and the college’s 2004 Irvine Distinguished
Faculty Fellowship for his exceptional work as a mentor and
advisor to students of color, students from economically
disadvantaged backgrounds, and first-generation college
students. His work with students was also recognized with
the 1999 Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award based on
accomplishments in scholarly research with undergraduates,
as well as a compelling commitment to teaching. In addition
to working with Pomona students, O’Leary serves on the
American Chemical Society’s Scholars Program committee,
which provides financial support and mentoring to more than
1,200 minority students interested in chemistry.
Pomona College is one of the nation's premier liberal arts
institutions, offering a comprehensive program in the arts,
humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Its
hallmarks include small classes, close relationships between
students and faculty, and a range of opportunities for
student research. Visit Pomona College on the web at
www.pomona.edu.
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