Rea Freeland

Associate Head, Department of Chemistry

Carnegie Mellon University

email: rf51@andrew.cmu.edu

Phone: (412) 268-7981

Assistant: (412) 268-3272

Fax: (412) 268-1061

Office: Mellon Institute 440-B
(Please enter through MI 408.)

I have transitioned to part-time work as of June 2017. I am typically on campus Mondays and Tuesdays, and a half-day on Wednesday or Thursday as needed. If you need to reach me urgently about a graduate student matter when I’m not in the office, please contact Valerie Bridge, (412) 268-3150. For other matters, please send me email for the fastest response.

Areas of responsibility

Graduate program oversight as a member of the Graduate Program Committee, with particular focus on support for ABD students toward timely graduation
Graduate Recruiting, including group visits, departmental graduate fellowships and related web/print materials
Departmental graduate ombudsperson, as described in the Guide to Graduate Studies, to assist with difficult academic or personal situations where a confidential sounding board and/or an intermediary can be helpful
Processes for untenured faculty to receive guidance and feedback from their Mentoring/Feedback Committees
Oversight of the department web site and supervision of IT staff

Team members

Senior Graduate Program Coordinator Valerie Bridge
Graphic and web designer Nicole Reading
Systems administrator/principal programmer Kristin Edwards

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, Cognitive Processes Research Group, 1986-1987
Department of Physics
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Research interests: General problem solving skills in diverse groups, particularly in mathematics
Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology,1986
Carnegie Mellon University
Research interests: Problem solving and simulation-based instruction in organic chemistry
B.S. in Chemistry, with Honors, 1981
Carnegie Mellon University

Previous positions

Associate Dean for Special Projects, Mellon College of Science, 2002-2016
Carnegie Mellon University
Primary responsibilities: MCS graduate ombudsperson, liaison for University Advancement and Alumni relations, Co-Editor-in-Chief Science Connection alumni magazine, MCS web site oversight, selected special events & fellowship selection,
Associate Director, Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence, 1993 -2000
Carnegie Mellon University
Primary responsibility: Seminars and consultations for graduate students as TAs
Research interests: Development of the Virtual Laboratory for introductory chemistry (collaboration with David Yaron)
Assistant Professor of Psychology, 1987-1993
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Harvey Mudd College and Claremont Graduate University
Teaching interests: Nature of intelligence, introduction to psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, cognition & instruction