After eight years, chemistry and Tex-Mex brought Tiffany Turner back home. "After spending a few years living in the northeast and missing the hot weather, Tex-Mex, and my family, I chose to come back to Texas," she says. "And Baylor was the perfect fit."

In her third year as a doctoral candidate for chemistry, she is researching under Dr. Charles Garner in the area of organic synthesis: designing, synthesizing and analyzing novel beta-cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral stationary phases for gas chromatography. "When my non-science friends ask, I explain it in terms of discriminating trash cans."

After earning an undergraduate and masters degree in chemistry, Tiffany knew exactly what she wanted in a doctoral program. "I wanted a program that was small and tight-knit, one where you knew everybody and everyone was willing to help you succeed," she says. "From my first visit, the faculty and students were extremely friendly and helped me make the transition as easy as could be."

Researching Other Interests

And in addition to her interest in organic synthesis, Tiffany has been able to explore chemical education and how students learn organic chemistry. "Not only has the department allowed me to develop and implement new curriculum for the organic chemistry lab," she says, "Baylor has created wonderful opportunities for me to share my love of teaching and learn from other students, faculty and staff through TAPP/SET and Teaching Commons."

Finally, after studying chemistry for ten years, graduation is right around the corner. "I've accepted a tenure-track faculty position at Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina," she says. "Without the support of my research advisor, other chemistry faculty and my Teaching Commons mentors, I wouldn't have applied for the position and I wouldn't have believed I could be a professor, doing what I love – teaching and learning."

Unexpected Comforts

Tiffany says she has enjoyed so many aspects of the university including the small classes, the access to faculty and the ability to collaborate with other students, but there have been perks outside the program that have made student life more bearable. "I am constantly working with other chemists, but we even hang out together outside of the lab," she says. "Super Bowl parties, weekend get togethers, weddings; we're not only coworkers but friends."