Hephzibah Kumpaty
July 17, 2020
Written by Craig Schreiner
(UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
In Great Teaching, Hephzibah Kumpaty, a professor of chemistry at UW-Whitewater for 24 years, shown here with chemistry major Katherine Ceschi, left, in the lab, talks about her track record of training and mentoring students in organic chemistry research, resulting in several presentations at national and international meetings, including an invited talk at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa in July 2017.
"Several of my student researchers have pursued doctoral studies in chemistry, medical and pharmacy schools," said Kumpaty. "From 2011 to 2014, I secured and administered a signature three-year National Science Foundation grant that provided unique international research experiences for 12 UW-Whitewater students in India. It has given me great pride to see students excel and secure national awards. An example is Michelle Storage, who won a $305,000 scholarship to pursue a doctorate at the Medical College of Wisconsin."
Kumpaty is passionate about teaching organic chemistry, which she says touches all aspects of our lives, whether they be medicines we take, food that we partake, clothes that we wear, proteins in our hair, our genetic material and the many consumer products we use.
(UW-Whitewater photo/Jeffrey Pohorksi)
In the past two years, Kumpaty, shown with chemistry researcher and student Robert Rider, has had two students she mentored selected for a prestigious summer research program at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York: Katherine Ceschi in 2018 and Rider in 2020. Kumpaty has also been instrumental in establishing, in 2005, the UW-Whitewater chemistry department’s high-field NMR laboratory, along with her colleague, Professor Steven Anderson. The NMR is a heavily used instrument both in teaching and research in the department.
"We not only teach students about chemistry theory and best practices, but hands-on-immersion in the laboratory, where students learn the techniques of reaction set-up, execution, work-up, purification and structural elucidation of products using sophisticated instruments," Kumpaty said. "Gaining laboratory skills — using industry-quality technology and equipment — is part of what makes the UW-Whitewater science experience special and gives students a competitive edge." 
(UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
Kumpaty, flanked by students in her lab, has also seen the university’s chemistry program grow over the years. Enrolling just 25 students 20 years ago, the program now graduates about 130 chemistry majors every year.
“With COVID-19, there is so much need to train chemists and biologists to combat the current crisis," said Kumpaty. "I see an urgent need to prepare the workforce, especially in the organic synthesis area, so we have enough people to work in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry to manufacture drugs and vaccines.”
WHY I TEACH is a series about the dedicated faculty at UW-Whitewater’s two campuses who make every day a teachable moment — and every place a learning place — by their expertise and example.