Deanne Snavely, who was appointed dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in the spring, began work at IUP on August 1, 2011.
She brings to IUP twenty-five years of experience from Bowling Green State University. Most recently, she served as interim associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and interim dean of the graduate college and vice provost for research.
“I am excited to be selected as the new dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,” Snavely said. “The faculty, students, and staff of the college have created a strong, vibrant educational environment in science and mathematics. I look forward to continuing and building the college and its programs to provide excellent learning opportunities for our future students.”
At Bowling Green, Snavely, a physical-analytical chemist, rose through the faculty ranks in the chemistry department to the rank of professor with tenure. She also served for four years as chemistry department chairperson.
As a faculty member, Snavely taught a full range of courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, from freshman general chemistry to advanced graduate courses in quantum chemistry. She has mentored twenty-five undergraduate students on research projects and has supervised seven master's theses and seven doctoral dissertations.
Her research interests focus on the study of polyatomic molecules through the use of vibrational spectroscopy and the kinetics of reactions by laser vibrational overtone activation. Having published thirty-six peer-reviewed journal articles, she has secured nearly $1 million in external funding in support of her research and has presented her findings at more than thirty-five national and international scientific meetings. She was a principal in the Center for Photochemical Sciences at Bowling Green.
Early in her career, she received the prestigious Naval Young Investigator Award in Chemistry and the Bowling Green State University Chapter of Sigma Xi Distinguished Young Scientist award. She has also been selected to serve on national review panels for the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and agencies of the Armed Forces.
A native of Ohio, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Ohio State University and a doctorate in physical chemistry from Yale University. After completing her doctorate, Snavely held postdoctoral appointments at Yale University and Stanford University before joining Bowling Green.
At Bowling Green, she had many administrative and committee assignments, including chairing the committee that drafted the Gender Equity Plan for Intercollegiate Sports and facilitating the President's Advisory Council Steering Committee.