Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - As the new fall semester brings hundreds of new faces to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the new academic year will also bring a new face to one of the seven department chairs in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science.

Associate professor Charles Cornett has assumed responsibilities as chair of the Department of Chemistry and Engineering Physics. His goals for the department include maintaining the quality of its programs and related research activities as well as retaining and continuing to attract quality faculty members as the program grows.

"I'm excited about it. It's going to be a new challenge to steer this department through the Tri-State Initiative. We have programs that are going to generate a lot of interest from those students," Cornett said. "We have great faculty. I'm really excited about the chemistry and engineering physics folks we've hired recently. It's nice to have that foundation as we go into the future."

Others are likewise excited to have Cornett onboard as department chair.

"Dr. Cornett has demonstrated an energy and enthusiasm that will help the Department of Chemistry and Engineering Physics continue to expand and enhance its programs," said College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science Dean Richard Shultz. "Chuck is a person who is concerned about the students and will do everything possible to guarantee them the best education possible. I look forward to working with Dr. Cornett."

Cornett said the chemistry and engineering physics programs are increasing in popularity, in no small part because of the department's emphasis on hands-on education and research opportunities for students. Cornett said the program gives students "unparalleled access" to state-of-the-art laboratory equipment.

"We have a commitment to hands-on [education] in the lab. We get students involved very early in research and design," he said. "It gives them a sense of being a part of the chemistry and engineering physics community, and it seems to help with retention. I think that's a big benefit to the undergraduate research and design."

Students under Cornett's direction have been recently involved with methamphetamine research to aid law enforcement personnel in prosecuting drug criminals, as well as research to help investigators identify arson. In fact, UW-Platteville's criminalistics program, one of several emphases in the UWP chemistry degree program, is what attracted Cornett to the school. He previously taught chemistry and forensic science for five years at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cornett earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from King College in Bristol, Tenn., and obtained his doctoral degree at the University of Kentucky.

The UWP criminalistics emphasis is the only program of its kind in the UW System, and one of only about 30 in the nation, Cornett estimates. The program prepares students for careers in crime lab analysis, drug identification, toxicology and DNA analysis. It is offered in conjunction with the UWP criminal justice program.

"We're rapidly growing and becoming more attractive to crime lab directors," Cornett said.

UWP offers an American Chemical Society-approved comprehensive chemistry major as well as additional emphases in biochemistry and pre-pharmacy. Engineering physics is an interdisciplinary program that combines the studies of physics and engineering into a single curriculum. The major credits are split about equally between physics and engineering, particularly mechanical and electrical. With 17 faculty members in the program, Cornett estimates there will be 120 students majoring in chemistry this fall and another 45 students majoring in engineering physics.

In addition to continuing the quality of its programs, one of Cornett's goals for the Department of Chemistry and Engineering Physics is to reach out to the alumni of its program. A homecoming celebration for chemistry alumni is planned in conjunction with the 2004 UWP Homecoming weekend, Oct. 9 and 10.

"We really want our alumni to come back and see how we've made progress," Cornett said.

Cornett lives outside Platteville with his wife and two children. In his free time he enjoys gardening, working on old cars, fishing and coaching baseball.