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Susan Rutkowsky

Susan A. Rutkowsky, PhD

Assistant Department Head, Teaching Professor
Department of Chemistry
Office: Stratton Hall 411
sar@drexel.edu
Phone: 215.895.1509

Education:

  • PhD, Chemistry, Drexel University
  • BS, Villanova University

Curriculum Vitae:

Download (PDF)

Research Interests:

  • Development of labs and lecture demonstrations for general and organic chemistry courses
  • Development of evidence-based teaching strategies
  • Cosmetic chemistry
  • STEM outreach programs

Bio:

Susan Rutkowsky earned a PhD in organic chemistry at Drexel University with research interests in stereochemistry. She then joined the faculty at Drexel where she now has more than 20 years teaching experience. She has developed numerous lab experiments for general and organic chemistry courses. But her specialty lies in the development and use of demonstrations during lectures. One lecture demonstration that she helped to develop was featured on the cover of the Journal of Chemical Education.

In addition, Susan is the director of a State of Pennsylvania funded outreach program, Science in Motion. This program delivers modern scientific instrumentation and materials to engage high school students with hands-on science laboratory experiments. Annually, Science in Motion reaches a racially and ethnically diverse group of about 10,000 students at 10 high schools in the School District of Philadelphia.

Selected Publications:

  • Susan A. Rutkowsky, Daniel Kleier. “Chemistry 151 Lab Manual, Third Edition”, (web-based format), 2022, Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
  • Susan A. Rutkowsky, Daniel Kleier. “Chemistry 151 Lab Manual”, 2016, Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
  • M. Ilies; E.J. Thorne; S.A. Rutkowsky. “Laboratory Manual: General Chemistry II”, Drexel University, Philadelphia, 2016.
  • Susan A. Rutkowsky. “Laboratory Manual: General Chemistry III”, Drexel University, Philadelphia, 2013.
  • M. Ilies; E.J. Thorne; S.A. Rutkowsky. “Laboratory Manual: General Chemistry II”, Drexel University, Philadelphia, 2013.
  • Sally D. Solomon, Susan A. Rutkowsky, Megan L. Mahon, Erica M. Halpern. “Synthesis of Copper Pigments, Malachite and Verdigris: Making Tempera Paint”, J. Chem. Educ., 2011, 88, 1694.
  • Sally D. Solomon and Susan A. Rutkowsky. “Dissolving Carboxylic Acids and Primary Amines on the Overhead Projector”, J. Chem. Ed., 2010, 87, 398. (Cover of April Issue)
  • Sally D. Solomon, Susan A. Rutkowsky, Mozhgan Bahadory, Charles Boritz, Robert German and Charles A. Sineri. “Determination of Curcuminoids in Turmeric Using Visible Spectroscopy”, The Chemical Educator, Jan 16, 2010 issue (Vol 15), p. 59.
  • Sally Solomon, Susan A. Rutkowsky, Charles Boritz. “Everyday Investigations for General Chemistry”, 2009, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Sally D. Solomon, Mozghan Bahadory, Aravindan V. Jeyarajasingam, Susan A. Rutkowsky, Charles Boritz, and Lorraine Mulfinger. “Synthesis and Study of Silver Nanoparticles”, J. Chem. Ed., 2007, 84, 322.
  • Peter A. Wade, Susan A. Rutkowsky, and Daniel B. King. “A Simple Combinatorial Experiment Based on Fischer Esterification. An Experiment Suitable for the First- Semester Organic Chemistry Lab”, J. Chem. Ed., 2006, 83, 927.
  • Sally D. Solomon, Susan A. Rutkowsky. “Chemical Demonstration Show", The Chemical Educator, Feb 1, 2006 issue (Vol 11, Issue 1).
  • Sally D. Solomon, Susan A. Rutkowsky, and Joseph Bennet. “Using Ice- Cooled Condensers in Chemistry Laboratory”, J. Chem. Ed., 2002, 80, 299.