Rate My Professor Alicia Paterno

Alicia A. Paterno, Ph.D., is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Duquesne University, where she began teaching in 2002. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her B.S. in Chemistry from Ithaca College. Dr. Paterno teaches General Chemistry I (CHEM 121/121L) and General Chemistry II (CHEM 122/122L) in both lecture and laboratory settings, coordinates recitations and labs for these courses, mentors graduate students in their teaching assignments, and instructs Introduction to Chemistry and Chemical Problem Solving (CHEM 120). Serving as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Chair of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, she shapes the undergraduate curriculum in chemistry. Her dedication to student success emphasizes building strong foundations in chemistry and problem-solving skills.

Dr. Paterno has contributed to chemical education through publications, including co-authoring 'Quantitative Impact of an Artificial Intelligence Tutoring System on Student Performance in Chemical Formulas' in Educator (2010, 15, 455-460), as well as Complete and Selected Solutions Manuals for General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications (10th and 11th editions, Pearson, 2010 and 2016) and Chemistry: A Molecular Approach (1st and 2nd Canadian Editions, Pearson, 2013 and 2016). She received the School Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2021 and the School Award for Excellence in Service in 2024. Dr. Paterno regularly presents at the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, covering topics such as WebAssign for online homework (2012), transitioning to ALEKS (2014), student-led safety initiatives (2016), training graduate teaching assistants (2018), Aktiv Chemistry for active learning (2022), and introductory courses bridging knowledge gaps (2024). She organizes symposia on engaging students in large chemistry classes.