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Douglas E. Rohde, M.S.
Senior Forensic Chemist/Toxicologist
Lake County Crime Laboratory - Painesville, Ohio

I grew up in Erie and was aware of Gannon. While I was in high school, my father attended Gannon to obtain a Master's degree in Counseling. I made many visits to Gannon while he was a student and was proud when he graduated. As a senior in high school, I decided to pursue a career in Chemistry thanks to a very motivated high school Chemistry teacher. I chose Gannon's Chemistry program because of its excellent reputation in the surrounding community and beyond. Little did I know when I graduated from Gannon with a BS in Chemistry where that degree would take me.

I was hired as a laboratory technician in a local clinical laboratory where I performed chemistry testing. After a couple of years, I decided pursue a graduate degree in chemistry. When I applied to graduate school, my GRE's were waived in part because of my solid chemistry background from Gannon. I obtained a MS degree in Chemistry and worked for 12 years at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in the Chemistry and Toxicology Department. I was then offered my dream job as a Forensic Chemist and Toxicologist in a crime laboratory.

I began working at the Lake County (OH) Crime Laboratory in 2000. My duties include examining evidence for the presence of controlled substances and identifying drugs and poisons in Coroner cases. I am also involved in alcohol testing for DUI cases which includes court testimony as an expert witness. To qualify as an expert, my educational background is scutinized by attorneys and the court, as well as my employment experience. I am proud to say that my BS degree in Chemistry from Gannon has contributed a great deal to my qualification as an expert in the field of Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology.

David C. Muddiman, Ph.D.
Recent Career Change from the Mayo Clinic to:
Professor of Chemistry - North Carolina State University

My educational experiences at Gannon University can be described as a liberal arts one with significant depth. The overall Gannon experience is a liberal arts education providing the diversity one needs to succeed throughout their professional career. However, the Chemistry Department provided the depth required to fully appreciate and understand the complexities of chemistry including the opportunity to carry out laboratory research. My Professors were a dedicated and enthusiastic team who made the subject interesting and made sure upon graduation, I was prepared for graduate education. Importantly, the chemistry faculty were very supportive and caring individuals who really wanted each and every student to succeed, even those of us who experienced difficulty with the subject early on.

My experience motivated me to pursue a career in academe and I attribute this to the strong foundation in chemistry and inspiration I received from the faculty during my tenure in the Department of Chemistry at Gannon University for which I am very grateful!