Preetha Ram received her BS from the Women’s Christian College in Chennai, India, her MS from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India, and her PhD in Biophysical Chemistry from Yale University in 1989. As a researcher, she investigated protein-carbohydrate interactions at membrane surfaces using NMR spectroscopy. As a science educator, she has focused her research on the development and use of Problem Based Learning (PBL) pedagogies in K-16 classrooms. In addition to developing PBL curricula and web-based learning environments for undergraduate and pre-college chemistry courses, she is working on ways to apply this learning to large enrollment classes. She initiated the Emory’s ChemMentors program, which promotes peer-led team learning, and started a study-abroad program in Siena, Italy, to gain valuable international experience for science majors. She has been recognized by Emory College’s Excellence in Teaching Award for the Natural Sciences.
Dean Ram is responsible for undergraduate science initiatives at the Office for Undergraduate Education. She runs the INSPIRE program, oversees the dual degree program with Georgia Institute of Technology and is always available for advising science students in general and specifically about undergraduate research, interdisciplinary science programs and international programs. In addition, she is the dean for the junior year, transfer students and college commencement. She maintains a close relationship with the Center for Programs Abroad and serves on the Faculty Science Council. Dr. Ram has served as the director of undergraduate studies and senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, and she is also an associated faculty in the Division of Educational Studies at Emory University.
Dr. Ram’s teaching interests have ranged from large enrollment general chemistry courses, physical chemistry labs, analytical chemistry lectures and labs to upper-level interdisciplinary seminars that provide a capstone experience to graduating chemistry majors. Lately she has been involved with developing and teaching interdisciplinary courses such as “Ancient Science” with the Department of Classics. This fall, she will be teaching a freshman seminar titled, “Chemistry of Wine”. |
