Dr. Kimberly Petersen is a familiar face at UNC Greensboro, and it’s not just because she teaches key prerequisite courses in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Given her dedication to undergraduate research, it is no surprise that she received this year’s UNC Board of Governor’s Excellence in Teaching Award. 

Petersen follows a philosophy that considers different learning styles as she engages with programs at UNCG or elsewhere. “One approach to teaching will not work for everyone,” she says. “Prioritizing different teaching approaches such as straight-ahead lecturing, active learning, and one-on-one instruction has been an effective strategy to give students multiple opportunities to show their knowledge.”

Thanks to her commitment, students carry incredible success stories out of the Sullivan Science Building. Many of her undergraduates and graduate students have capitalized on prestigious funding opportunities and highly competitive scholarship or fellowships. She says, “Of the undergraduate student alums from my research group, at least 10 have pursued graduate degrees in chemistry or related fields, at least seven attended medical or professional schools, and at least 10 are working in science industries.”

Engaging Budding Scientists

Organic Chemistry carries the stigma of a “weed out” class at colleges, Petersen says. Its high stakes intimidate many students, leading them to veer away from this course of study. So, Petersen likes to mix things up. She creates low-stakes assignments to go alongside high-stakes exams. “Some students just don’t test well, and this gives them an opportunity to shine in other areas,” she explains.

She teaches a “retro-syntheses” exercise that requires working backwards on a multi-step synthesis question. Her students were initially frustrated that they could not merely check their answers in a solutions manual or a Google search. “But with the right guidance,” she says, “Students learn to find the fun and freedom that comes with the exercise. Skills like these are one of the main reasons Organic Chemistry has long been a benchmark for medical and professional school admission panels.” 

When Petersen realized that students weren’t using molecular model kits they could borrow from the department, she incorporated sessions on how to use the kits in her Chemistry 351 course.

For Advanced Organic Chemistry, she started an online journal club. Students can share and discuss topical news related to what they are learning in class. The YouTube educational videos she created during the COVID-19 pandemic still rack up views after the shift back to in-person learning.

Her teaching methods have been praised by her colleague Dr. Nadja Cech, a previous recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award. “Attendance was excellent and the students were engaged; taking notes with multi-colored pens and listening intently,” Cech wrote in a peer review. “When Dr. Petersen asked for questions after the first step of a mechanism, she got about six…It is evident that the students feel welcome to ask questions and that students of different levels are participating.” 

Creating a Spark That Burns Beyond UNCG

The commitment to undergraduate research extends beyond her department. Petersen was named director of the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Office in Fall 2024. She is co- principal investigator (PI) for UNCG’s S-STEM grant to coordinate scholarships and programming for students with financial needs. She was PI for the U-RISE program to prepare students from traditionally underrepresented groups in biomedical sciences. Their accolades include two Goldwater Scholarships and three Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation. “At least 12 of those have gone on to pursue their PhDs in biomedical science programs,” she says.

One of those Goldwater Scholars, Kala Youngblood ’22, arrived at UNCG as a first-generation college student. She says Petersen made her feel like she belonged. “I learned far more than science and research techniques,” she says. “Her group meetings were designed to be a collaborative space where students felt comfortable making mistakes. It was here I developed strong presentation skills.”

Kyla Stingley ’15 ’17 MS, echoes this praise. “What really encouraged me and surprised me early on was how much faith Dr. Petersen seemed to have in me. Even with only one full semester of organic chemistry under my belt she asked my input on problems or challenged me to think through aspects of my research.” 

Department Head Jason Reddick says there is a reason Petersen has received many awards. “They underscore her commitment to teaching and mentorship, as well as her lasting impact on undergraduate research at UNCG. Her high standards should serve as a model for faculty across the UNC system.”

Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications