Student Organizations

The Chemistry Club serves as a social outlet for our majors and provides services in career planning. A magic show open to the public is presented every other Spring and is the major fund raiser for the club, in addition to t-shirt sales, cookouts, and other activities. Officer elections are held towards the end of the Spring semester. Contact Dr. Young (faculty advisor to the club) for more information.

NOBCChE

Our local chapter of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) aims to increase diversity in STEM at William & Mary by providing opportunities to students of all backgrounds. Under the leadership of Prof. Dana Lashley NOBCChE at William & Mary became an official chapter in Fall 2018 and was recognized at the National NOBCChE conference at Orlando in 2018. 

Our chapter was founded with the intent of increasing the number of graduating Chemistry majors of color by building connections and sharing opportunities directed towards underrepresented populations across campus. We hope to expand our reach across campus as well into the outer community, to provide education and mentorship to underrepresented students in the Greater Williamsburg area.  Our chapter is highly involved in outreach across campus and in the community. Outreach highlights include our annual participation in Physics Fest as well as a partnership with Campus Kitchen, allowing us to bring children from underprivileged families to the Integrated Science Center and share fun and exciting chemistry demos with them in hopes that our love for chemistry is contagious and inspiring. Contact the chapter via Facebook.

Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association is open to all graduate students in the Arts & Sciences and provides social and academic outlets. The association holds monthly meetings. Click here to learn more.

PRIME Peer Retention & Inclusive Mentoring Experience

Our mentorship program, PRIME Peer Retention & Inclusive Mentoring Experience, is targeted at students enrolled in General Chemistry I (CHEM 103). This program aims to engage students and provide valuable resources that promote success within the course and establish a sense of community and belonging within the department. Mentors serving in this program will work either as “specialists” or “generalists”:

Specialists:

• Directly paired with a CHEM 103 faculty instructor
• Attend CHEM 103 lectures
• Hold study/tutor sessions and other responsibilities that will be later defined

Generalists:

• Aid in design and implementation of chemistry themed programming events
• Hold study/tutor session
• Assist with lecture sections when needed and other responsibilities to be determined

Due to the close ties to the Chemistry department, hiring preference for mentors is given to chemistry majors.

General Expectations:

• 5-10 hr/week for 15 weeks of the semester
• Hold weekly tutorial sessions
• Participate in mentor trainings
• Work closely with faculty to support the program
• Act with a level of professionalism and encourage a sense of community and belonging

Chemistry faculty supervise the mentors. If you would like to apply to be a mentor the pdf application is available here.