Scholar Profile

Marie Southerland

Voted Most Likely To:
Bake the best dessert

Graduated:
Ashland University, Class of 2012
The University of Akron, MS
The University of Akron, Ph.D.

Currently Working As:
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oberlin College and Conservatory

What do you love about your job?
I love being able to take a difficult concept and make it fun and easy to learn. Interacting with students and seeing how much they love and appreciate chemistry is very rewarding. Being that support system to help students through undergraduate classes and assist them into going into industry or graduate school makes being a professor even more fun.

What has been the most exciting part of your career so far?
The most exciting part of my career so far has been accepting a teaching position. Having all of my hard work culminate into a job offer that I am so excited about has been a wonderful experience!

What would you tell yourself at age 18?
Never stop learning!

How has ACS Scholars impacted your life and career?
Yes it absolutely has! There was a point in time when the cost of college was so overwhelming that I did not know if I would be able to continue school. Each year was a struggle to find the funding for another year and the ACS Scholars program was a huge relief. I did not have to worry anymore about where the money was going to come from and could focus on school and research internships.