Samantha M. F. Cass

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Samantha M. F. Cass , Ph.D.

Teaching Professor
LB Course Subject Area: Chemistry

Holmes Hall
919 E. Shaw Lane, W-25B
East Lansing, MI 48825
United States

LBC Courses Taught

LB 155 Introduction to Quantitative Science and Research
LB 171: Principles of Chemistry
LB 172: Principles of Chemistry II
LB 172L: Reactivity Laboratory

Biography

I am a chemistry faculty member here at Briggs. I teach the introductory chemistry courses, the introduction to quantitative science course and occasionally senior seminars. I am passionate about student learning and the research I do is centered around chemical education because I want my research to inform my teaching and my teaching to guide my research pursuits.

Education

Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Michigan State University

B.S. in Chemistry from Grand Valley State University

Honors and Awards

  • Michigan State University Distinguished Academic Staff Award, 2025
  • Graduating Lyman Briggs Seniors faculty achievement award 2014 and 2018
  • STEM Gateway Fellowship 2016-2018
  • Adams Academy Fellowship 2014-2015

Research

  • SUTL (Scholarship of Undergraduate Teaching and Learning) fellow mentor, May 2018 to May 2020
  • “SPRING 3: Scholarship Program for Retaining, Inspiring, and eNabling Graduates” PI-Ryan Sweeder, Co-PI Mark Largent, Sean Valles, Jonelle Golding, Rick Shipman, Samantha Cass. Funded March 2016.
  • S3 Grant: “Future Design Artifact Studio” PI Megan Halpern, Co-PI Aubrey Wigner, Issac Record, Sarah Hendrickson, Samantha Cass. Funded Spring 2017.

Publications

  • Jeffery, K. A.; Cass, S. M. F.; Sweeder, R. D.  Comparison of student understanding of reaction kinetics in lecture- and context-based courses.  Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research, accepted
  • Cass, S. M. F.; Sweeder, R. D., Herrington, D. The use of modeling to assist students understanding of limiting reactants and balanced equations, in preparation
  • Cass, S. M. F.; Sewell-Davis, M.; Urquhart, J.; Matz, B.; Kursav, M.; Sweeder, R. D. The development of the INQUIRE (Instilling Quantitative and Integrative Reasoning) program to assist student success, submitted
  • Cass, S. M. F.; Sewell-Davis, M.; Urquhart, J.; Matz, B.; Kursav, M.; Sweeder, R. D. Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of the impact of the INQUIRE program in student success, submitted