Dan Freedman has the key to unlocking students’ interest in chemistry – a passion for combining teaching and research.

Conducting his own research projects in inorganic and green chemistry is what keeps Freedman, an associate professor and chair of New Paltz’s Chemistry Department, attuned to what students starting out in chemistry may be experiencing. It also provides students with the opportunities to do research themselves alongside Freedman.

“I get a kick out of putting the pieces together and answering questions that no one has answered before,” he said.

The hands-on approach to teaching chemistry has been successful for Freedman. Doing research tends to spark student’s interest and leads to a deeper understanding of chemistry, no matter what students do after they graduate.  His students have gone on to graduate programs in nanoscience and chemistry, law school, medical school, as well as working as chemists in everything from analyzing toothpaste to conducting research for pharmaceutical companies.

“Chemistry shows up just about everywhere,” he said.

Freedman has taught at New Paltz since 1999, and became chair of the Chemistry Department four years ago. His main goal has been to thoroughly integrate research into the undergraduate curriculum.

“There has been a lot of interest and enthusiasm from the students,” he said. “We don’t have to look for students interested in research, they come looking for us.”

In teaching general chemistry, Freedman has worked with a wide range of students from education to art majors. He is always looking for new ways to teach the same concepts.

“You never know what is going to make something click in their minds,” he said.

Relax and unwind: “Everything I do in my work requires my brain to be on, so running allows me to turn it off and not think about anything complicated.”

Start in science: Before becoming a chemistry major, Freedman was a history major, but found that lab work was way too much fun.

Educational background: Freedman grew up in Madison, Wis. and became addicted to college campuses from hanging out at the University of Wisconsin. His undergraduate experience at Macalester College, as well as graduate school at the University of Minnesota, reinforced this.