Faculty

Professor of Chemistry
Richardson 309
864.833.8419
cpowell@presby.edu

Education

B. S., Presbyterian College (Chemistry and Math)
Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Analytical Chemistry)

Areas of Speciality

Chromatography, Electrophoretic Methods

Courses Taught

CHEM 101/101L: General Chemistry I
CHEM 102/102L: General Chemistry II
CHEM 311: Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 312: Instrumental Analysis
CHEM 345: Forensic Science

Research Interests

Current area of research is applications of Deep Eutectic Solvents (Ionic Liquids) for chromatography, electrophoresis, and electrochemistry.

Publications

J. Sepaniak, A.C. Powell, D.F. Swaile, and R.O. Cole, “Fundamentals of Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography” in “Capillary Electrophoresis: Theory and Practice”; P.D. Grossman and J.C. Colburn, Ed.; Academic Press:  San Diego, 1992; pp.159 – 189.

C. Powell and M. J. Sepaniak, “Development of a Model for Predicting Retention Times in Solvent-Gradient Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography”, J. Microcol. Sep. 1990, 2, 278 – 284.

J. Sepaniak, D. F. Swaile, A. C. Powell and R. O. Cole, “Capillary Electrokinetic Separations: Influence of Mobile Phase Composition on Performance”, JHRC & CC. 1990, 13, 679 – 688.

J. Sepaniak, D. F. Swaile and A. C. Powell, “Instrumental Developments in Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography”, J. Chromatogr. 1989, 480, 185 – 196.

T. Balchunas, D. F. Swaile, A. C. Powell and M. J. Sepaniak, “Separations of Compounds of Biological Interest by Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography”, Sep. Sci. Technol. 1988, 23, 1891 – 1904.

A.C. Powell and M.J. Sepaniak, “Analytical Instrumentation And Computational Methods For Generating And Optimizing Solvent-Gradients In Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography”, Anal. Instr. 1993, 21, 25 – 41.

Professor of Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
864.833.8407
Richardson 305
gearhear@presby.edu

Education

B. S., University of Mary Washington 1995
Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 2001

Courses Taught

CHEM 101/101L: General Chemistry I
CHEM 102/102L: General Chemistry II
CHEM 401/401L: Physical Chemistry I: Thermochemistry
CHEM 402/402L: Physical Chemistry II: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy
CHEM 458: Chemistry of Art

Research Interests

My research interests combine areas of analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, materials science, and biophysical chemistry.  In general, I am interested in studying the optical properties of semiconductor and metal nanoparticles with emphasis on their applications as luminescent probes (in the case of semiconductor nanoparticles) or surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates (in the case of metal nanoparticles).  I am also interested in the assembly of nanoparicles through chemical linkage, such as DNA mediated assembly, and through self-assembly.

Publications

C. J. Orendorff, L. A. Gearheart, N. R. Jana, C. J. Murphy “Aspect Ratio Dependence on Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Using Silver and Gold Nanorod Substrates,” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2006, 8, 165-170.

S. Sen, L. A. Gearheart, E. Rivers, H. Liu, R. S. Coleman, C. J.  Murphy, M. A. Berg, “Role of Monovalent Counterions in the Ultrafast Dynamics of DNA” Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 2006; 110(26); 13248-13255.

X. Xu, R. Ray, Y. Gu, H. Ploehn, L. Gearheart, K. Raker, W. A. Scrivens “Electrophoretic Analysis and Purification of Fluorescent Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Fragments,” Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2004, 126(40), 12736-12737.

L. A. Gearheart, M. M. Somoza, W. E. Rivers, R. S. Coleman, C. J. Murphy, M. A. Berg “Sodium Ion Binding to DNA: Detection by Ultrafast Time-Resolved Stokes Shift Spectroscopy.” Journal of the American Chemical Society2003, 125, 11812-11813.

Associate Professor of Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Richardson 325
864.833.8408
wott@presby.edu

Education

B. S., University of Central Florida
Ph.D., Emory University

Courses Taught

CHEM 101/101L: General Chemistry I
CHEM 102/102L: General Chemistry II
CHEM 221/221L: Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 222/222L: Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 307/307L: Biochemistry I

Research Interests

Organic Chemistry, Bio-organic Chemistry, Natural Product Synthesis.

Current interest involves using algae for biodiesel production

Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Office Location: 325 Richardson Hall
Office Phone: (864) 833-8314
PC Email: lkdelacru@presby.edu

Education

B.S., University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines (Agricultural Chemistry)
Ph.D., Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA (Organic/Medicinal Chemistry)

Areas of Specialty

Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Synthesis, Prodrugs, Carbon Monoxide Prodrugs, Carbon Monoxide Surrogates

Courses taught

General Chemistry I (101L)
General Chemistry II (CHEM 102)
Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 221/CHEM 221L)
Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 222/CHEM 222L)

Research Interests

Current area of research is design and synthesis of carbon monoxide releasing materials for therapeutic applications and as surrogates for carbonylation reactions.

Publications and Articles

1. Ji, X.; De La Cruz, L. K. C.; Pan, Z.; Chittavong, V.; Wang, B., pH-Sensitive metal-free carbon monoxide prodrugs with tunable and predictable release rates. Chemical Communications 2017, 53, 9628-9631.
2. Xin, M.; Ji, X.; De La Cruz, L. K.; Thareja, S.; Wang, B., Strategies to target the Hedgehog signaling pathway for cancer therapy. Medicinal Research Reviews 2018, 38, 870-913.
3. Yu, B.; Zheng, Y.; Yuan, Z.; Li, S.; Zhu, H.; De La Cruz, L. K.; Zhang, J.; Ji, K.; Wang, S.; Wang, B., Toward Direct Protein S-Persulfidation: A Prodrug Approach That Directly Delivers Hydrogen Persulfide. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2018, 140, 30-33.
4. Zheng, Y.; Ji, X.; Yu, B.; Ji, K.; Gallo, D.; Csizmadia, E.; Zhu, M.; Choudhury, M. R.; De La Cruz, L. K. C.; Chittavong, V.; Pan, Z.; Yuan, Z.; Otterbein, L. E.; Wang, B., Enrichment-triggered prodrug activation demonstrated through mitochondria-targeted delivery of doxorubicin and carbon monoxide. Nature Chemistry 2018, 10, 787-794.
5. Zheng, Y.; Yu, B.; De La Cruz, L. K.; Roy Choudhury, M.; Anifowose, A.; Wang, B., Toward Hydrogen Sulfide Based Therapeutics: Critical Drug Delivery and Developability Issues. Medicinal Research Reviews 2018, 38, 57-100.
6. De La Cruz, L. K. C.; Benoit, S. L.; Pan, Z.; Yu, B.; Maier, R. J.; Ji, X.; Wang, B., Click, Release, and Fluoresce: A Chemical Strategy for a Cascade Prodrug System for Codelivery of Carbon Monoxide, a Drug Payload, and a Fluorescent Reporter. Organic Letters 2018, 20, 897-900.
7. Ji, X.; Pan, Z.; Yu, B.; De La Cruz, L.K.; Zheng, Y.; Ke, B.; Wang, B. , Click and Release: Bioorthogonal Approaches to the “on-demand” Activation of Prodrugs. Chemical Society Reviews, 2019, Chemical Society Reviews 2019, 48, 1077-1094.
8. Ji, X.; Pan, Z.; Li, C.; Kang, T; De La Cruz, L. K. C.; Yang, L.; Ke, B.; Wang, B., Esterase-sensitive and pH-controlled Carbon Monoxide Prodrugs for Treating Systemic Inflammation. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2019, 62, 3163-3168.
9. Ji, X.; Aghoghovbia, R. E.; De La Cruz, L. K. C.; Pan, Z.; Yang, X.; Yu, B.; Wang, B., Click and Release: A High-Content Bioorthogonal Prodrug with Multiple Outputs. Organic Letters 2019, 21, 3649-3652.
10. Draganov, A. B.; Yang, X.; Anifowose, A.; De La Cruz, L. K. C.; Dai, C.; Ni, N.; Chen, W.; De Los Santos, Z.; Gu, L.; Zhou, M.; Wang, B., Upregulation of p53 through induction of MDM2 degradation: Anthraquinone analogs. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 2019, 27, 3860-3865.
11. Yuan, Z.; Yang, X.; De La Cruz, L. K. C.; Wang, B., Nitro reduction-based fluorescent probes for carbon monoxide require reactivity involving a ruthenium carbonyl moiety. Chemical Communications 2020, 56, 2190-2193.
12. Wang, M.; Yang, X.; Pan, Z., Wang, Y., De La Cruz, L. K. C., Wang, B. and Tan, C., Towards “CO in a pill”: Pharmacokinetic studies of carbon monoxide prodrugs in mice. Journal of Controlled Release 2020, 327, 174-185.
13. Hopper, C.; De La Cruz, L.K.; Lyles, K.; Wareham, L.; Gilbert, J.A.; Eichenbaum, Z.; Magierowski, M.; Poole, R.K.; Wollborn, J.; Wang, B. “The Role of Carbon Monoxide in Host-Gut Microbiome Communication” Chem. Rev. 2020, 120, 13273-13311. PMID: 33089988
14. De La Cruz, L.K.C.; Yang, X.; Cachuela, A.; Menshikh, A.; Lu, W.; Wang, M.; Wang, S.; Ji, X.; Cachuela, A.; Tan, C.; de Caestecker, M.; and Wang, B., Organic carbon monoxide prodrug ameliorates rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury. Chemical Science 2021, 12, 10649-10654.
15. De La Cruz, L.K.C., Ji, X., Yang, X., and Wang, B. Click, release, and fluoresce: In-vivo generation of CO with concomitant synthesis of a fluorescent reporter. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 44, 116297.

Assistant Professor
Richardson 307
864.833.8394
cjtatebe@presby.edu

Education

Ph.D., Purdue University (2019) “Expansion of Mid-valent Organouranium Chemistry”
M.Sc., Youngstown State University (2014)
B.Sc., Youngstown State University (2012)

Areas of Specialty

Inorganic chemistry
Organometallic chemistry
coordination chemistry
metal-organic frameworks
actinide chemistry

Courses Taught

General Chemistry I (CHEM 101/101L)
General Chemistry II (CHEM 102/102L)
Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 322)

Hobbies/Interests

Professor Tatebe comes from the Mahoning Valley in northeast Ohio. Outside of chemistry, he has passions for sports [mostly football (soccer), baseball], music, and games. Together with his wife, they raise their two sons (6, 3) and Australian Shepherd to do justly, love greatly, and follow in the steps of Christ [to the best of their ability]!

Professional Memberships/Affiliations

• American Chemical Society, member since 06/2009
• Reviewed peer manuscripts for: Inorganic Chemistry

Selected Publications

1. Tatebe, C.J., Yusuf, S., Bellas, M., Zeller, M., Arntsen, C., Genna, D.T.* “On the Role of Dioxane in the Synthesis of In-derived MOFs” Crystal Growth & Design, 2021, 21, 6840-6846.
2. Raghavan, A., Anderson, N.H., Tatebe, C.J., Stanley, D.A., Zeller, M., Bart, S.C.* “Insight Into Geometric Preferences in Uranium(VI) Mixed Tris(Imido) Systems” Chemical Communications, 2020, 56, 11138-11141.
3. Tatebe, C.J., Matson, E.M., Clark, C.L., Kiernicki, J.J., Fanwick, P.E., Zeller, M., Bart, S.C.* “Low- and Mid-Valent Uranium Species Supported by Phenyltris(oxazolinyl)borate Ligands” Organometallics, 2020, 39, 353-360.
4. Tatebe, C.J., Kiernicki, J.J., Higgins, R.F., Ward, R.J., Natoli, S.N., Langford, J.C., Clark, C.L., Zeller, M., Wenthold, P.G., Shores, M.P., Walensky, J.R., Bart, S.C.* “Investigation of the Electronic Structure of Aryl-Bridged Dinuclear U(III) and U(IV) Compounds” Organometallics, 2019, 38, 1031-1040.
5. Tatebe, C.J., Collins, T.C., Barnett, G.R., Zeller, M., Bart, S.C.* “Preparation of U(IV) κ¹-Amidinate Complexes by Nitrile Metathesis” Polyhedron. 2019, 158, 1-7. Invited Article: In Honor of William D. Jones on his 65^th Birthday Special Issue.
6. Tatebe, C.J., Gettys, K.E., Bart, S.C.* Reactivity of Actinide Imido Complexes. In Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths; Bünzli, J.G., Pecharsky, V.K., Eds.; Elsevier B.V. 2018, 54, 1-42.
7. Tatebe, C.J., Tong, Z., Kiernicki, J.J., Coughlin, E.J., Zeller, M., Bart, S.C.* “Activation of Triphenylphosphine Oxide Mediated by Trivalent Organouranium Species” Organometallics. 2018, 37, 934-940.
8. Tatebe, C.J., Johnson, S.A., Zeller, M., Bart, S.C.* “Generation of Tp*₂U(N₃) from a Family of New Uranium (III) Alkyl Complexes” Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 2018, 857, 152-158. Invited Article: In Honor of William J. Evans on his 70^th Birthday Special Issue
9. Tatebe, C.J., Zeller, M., Bart, S.C.* “[2π+2π] Cycloaddition of Isocyanates to Uranium(IV) Imido Complexes for the Synthesis of U(IV) κ²-Ureato Compounds” Inorganic Chemistry 2017, 56, 1956-1965. Winner of a 2017 Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Award: http://nucleartechinnovations.org/winners2017.html

Professor of Biology
Cell Biology
Lassiter 208
864.833.8418
rzim@presby.edu

Education

B.A., Goshen College
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

Areas of Specialty

Cell Biology
Immunology
Biochemistry

Courses taught

Cell Biology(Fall Semester)
Immunology (Spring Semesters)
DNA Fingerprinting (Freshman Semester, Fall 2005)
The Ecology and Natural History of the Colorado Plateau (Fleximester 2003)
Serengeti Safari (Maymester 2010)

Publications and Articles

Caitlin Rinz, Ron Zimmerman, Tim Wood (2009), Screening for Medium Chain Acyl-Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Adults in South Carolina. Proceedings of the National Conference of Undergraduate Research.

Matt Madden, Ron Michaelis, Ron Zimmerman (2003), The Involvement of Mutations in G Protein Receptor 50 (GPR50) in X-Linked Mental Retardation (XLMR). Bulletin of the South Carolina Academy of Science.

Jenny Bell, Sarah Plank, Ron Michaelis, Ron Zimmerman (2000), Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 and Its Link to Autism. Bulletin of the South Carolina Academy of Science.

Sarah Plank, Jenny Bell, Ron Michaelis, Ron Zimmerman (2000), Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Gene and Its Link to Autism. Bulletin of the South Carolina Academy of Science.

R.C. Zimmerman and C.E. Carter (1995), In Vitro Culture of Schistosoma japonicum Eggs: Synthesis and Release of a 140 Kilodalton Glycoprotein with Leucine Aminopeptidase Activity. Acta Medica Philippina 31 (3): 87-102.

J.D. Liberatos, R.C. Zimmerman, C.E. Carter (1992), In Vitro Culture of Schistosoma japonicum Eggs: Synthesis of a 70 kilodalton Heat Shock Protein. Proceedings of the Lousiana Academy of Sciences.

J.D.Liberatos, R.C. Zimmerman, C.E. Carter (1989), In Vitro Culture of Schistosoma japonicum Eggs: Synthesis of an Immunogenic 70 Kilodalton Heat Shock Protein (HSP-70). FASEB Journal 3 (4):1340.

Honors Research Projects

Caitlin Rinz (2009-2010) Screening for Medium Chain Acyl-Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Adults in South Carolina.

Sean Foley (2008), Do Mutations in the MAGT1 Gene Cause Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation?

Vidya Fleetwood (2007), Do Mutations in SLC35A Cause Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation?

Thomas Knackstedt (2007) Genetic Mutations of Cohen’s Syndrome.

Katie Thomas (2006), Genetic Mutations in C.H.A.R.G.E. Syndrome.

Matt Madden (2003), The Involvement of Mutations in G Protein Receptor 50 (GPR50) in X-Linked Mental Retardation (XLMR).

Andrew Evans (2001), Defective Herpes Virus Expressing GAD65 Injected into the Inferior Colliculus.

Jenny Bell (2000), Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 and Its Link to Autism.

Sarah Plank (2000), A Polymorphic Tetranucleotide Repeat Within the NF1 Gene and its Possible Link to Autism.

Julie Adair (1999), Sequencing of the SALL1 Gene for Mutations in Townes-Brocks Syndrome.

Meredith Koegler (1996-97), Determination of the Phylogenetic Relationship between Three Subspecies of Wild Turkey using the Sequence of the 28S Ribosomal RNA Gene D1 Region.

Craig Sanders (1996), Phylogeny of the Family Ictaluridae Based on the Nucleotide Sequence of the 28S Ribosomal RNA Gene.

David Wilkes (1996), DNA Nucleotide Sequence and Restriction Enzyme Map of the 28S Ribosomal RNA Gene of the North American Wild Turkey Meleagris gallapavo.

Hearon McCravy (1994), Determination of the Relative Phylogeny of the Seahorse (Hippocampus sp.) from the Sequence of the 28S Ribosomal RNA Gene.

Andrew Welch II (1994), Phylogeny of the Pipefish (Sygnathus floridae) from the Sequence of the 28S Ribosomal RNA Gene.

Assistant Professor of Biology
Genetics
Lassiter 206
864.833.8405
sggordon@presby.edu

Education

College of Wooster (Biology), B.A.
Ohio State University (Crop Breeding and Genetics), Ph.D.
Ohio State University (Plant Pathology), Post Doctoral Education

Areas of Specialty

Microbial genomics
Genetics of host-plant resistance

Courses Taught

Introductory Biology (Bio 101-102)
Genetics

Selected Publications

R. Pratt, S. Gordon, P. Lipps, G. Asea, G. Bigirwa and K. Pixley. 2003. Use of IPM in the control of multiple diseases in maize: strategies for selection of host resistance. African Crop Sci. J. 11:189-198.

Gordon, S. G., Bartsch M., Matthies, I., Lipps, P.E., Gevers, H.O. and Pratt, R.C. 2004. Linkage of molecular markers to Cercospora zeae-maydis resistance in maize via selective genotyping. Crop Science 44:628-636.

Pratt, R. C. and Gordon, S. G. 2005. Breeding for resistance to maize foliar pathogens. Plant Breeding Rev. 27:119-174.

G. Asea, P.E. Lipps, R.C. Pratt, S.G. Gordon and E. Adipala. 2005. Development of Greenhouse Inoculation Procedures for Evaluation of Partial Resistance to Cercospora zeae-maydis in Maize Inbreds. J. of Phytopathology 153:647-653.

Gordon, S. G., S. K. St. Martin and A. E. Dorrance. 2005. Rps8 maps to a R-gene rich region on soybean linkage group F. Crop Sci. 46:168-173.

Gordon, S. G., Lipps, P. E. and Pratt, R. C. 2006. Components of resistance to Cercospora zeae-maydis inherited from the maize inbred VO613Y. Phytopathology 96:593-598.

Brett M. Tyler, Sucheta Tripathy, Xuemin Zhang, Paramvir Dehal, Rays H.Y. Jiang, Andrea Aerts, Felipe D. Arredondo, Laura Baxter, Douda Bensasson, Jim L. Beynon, Jarrod Chapman, Cynthia M.B. Damasceno, Anne E. Dorrance, Daolong Dou, Allan W. Dickerman, Inna L. Dubchak, Matteo Garbelotto, Mark Gijzen, Stuart G. Gordon, Francine Govers, Niklaus J. Grunwald, et al. 2006. Phytophthora Genome Sequences Uncover Evolutionary Origins and Mechanisms of Pathogenesis. Science 313:1261-1266.

Gordon, S. G., S. A. Berry, S. K. St. Martin and A. E. Dorrance. 2007. Genetic analysis of soybean plant introductions with resistance to Phytophthora sojae. Phytopathology 97:106-112.

Gordon, S. G., K. Kowitwanich, W. Pipatpongpinyo, S. K. St. Martin and A. E. Dorrance. 2007. Molecular marker analysis of soybean plant introductions with resistance to Phytophthora sojae. Phytopathology 97:113-118.

Adjunct Professor

clarkemiller@presby.edu

Education

PhD, Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
MBA, Oglethorpe University, Brookhaven, Georgia
MEd, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
BS, Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky

Areas of Speciality

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology