In the weeks leading up to the Alumni Awards Ceremony, we’ll be profiling each of this year’s honorees in detail here on the blog. First up is our Outstanding Faculty Award winner, Dr. Tara Carpenter of UMBC’s own Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Dr. Tara Carpenter is a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UMBC. Dr. Carpenter developed a passion for teaching as a graduate teaching assistant at Duquesne University, and after she completed her Ph.D., she sought out academic positions that made teaching undergraduates a priority. She was drawn to UMBC’s welcoming campus culture and its enthusiasm for undergraduate success. In her 11 years here, she has worked to change the way undergraduate students experience their first chemistry courses by helping to create a variety of resources for them, from the Discovery Center to online homework and in-person as well as virtual office hours. She enjoys working with UMBC students for their ability to “think outside the box.” She considers every semester an adventure as students continue to engage her with new and exciting questions.