Brief summary: I seek to be a scholar, to continue to develop my effectiveness as a teacher, and to participate in the community of college educators.

• Above all, it is my mission to be a committed scholar in the specific discipline of medicinal chemistry - a discipline that brings the science of chemistry to bear on the practical goal of designing new and better molecules for human pharmacotherapeutic applications, and thus encompasses pharmaceutical, organic, biological, physical, analytical, and theoretical chemistry, and requires significant in-depth knowledge of physiology, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pathophysiology, and toxicology.

• I strive to understand, as deeply as possible, the relevance of this discipline . .
  • to humanity;
  • to the education of Pharm.D. students, who as professionals will apply this subject in many different arenas;
  • to the education of scientists-in-training (primarily graduate students);
  • to the education of undergraduates (including undergraduate researchers).

• I endeavor to be an effective teacher by . . .
  • continually working to improve my ability to synthesize and present or explain information in ways that will make sense to, and engender understanding in individuals of myriad backgrounds and diverse learning abilities;
  • devoting some modest fraction of my time to reading the learning research literature, or taking in relevant presentations in that area;
  • occasionally experimenting with new teaching paradigms, and gathering feedback concerning (1) learner enthusiasm and (2) effectiveness in bringing about useful learning.

I am certain that I have become a better investigator, a better theoretical chemist, because I teach undergraduates. -- Roald Hoffman

• As part of my mission, I aim to exert influence in the academic community concerning the importance of the discipline of medicinal chemistry . . .
  • to the education of pharmacy practitioners;
  • as a unique area of emphasis for graduate study and research training.

Brief summary: I seek to read, to view and/or listen to presentations, to ponder, to synthesize, to write and to interact professionally and build functional networks with colleagues, with students, and with other professionals.

• I strive to be aware of significant advances and trends in medicinal chemistry and in other disciplines that are directly interwoven with - or have a significant impact on - this discipline, by . . .
  • Reading, at various levels of depth, the literature pertinent to
    • specific areas of expertise;
    • the discipline in general;
    • education within the discipline and related disciplines;
    • science in general;
    • science education in general;
  • Regularly attending seminars;
  • Attending conferences, carefully selected based on current priorities, and as many as monetary resources allow, but consistent with reasonable consumption of my personal time.

• I must make time on a regular basis to purposefully ponder the overarching trends within the discipline and affecting the discipline; to thereby continually resynthesize a reasonable weltanblicken ("big-picture" or "worldview"), which by nature must be complex and ever-changing; and to apply this empirical construct to daily decisions affecting my mission as an educator, scholar, and scientist.

• I endeavor to contribute to the current literature, as regularly as possible, significant new knowledge resulting from scholarly research or, occasionally, original syntheses of information obtained from the work of others.

• As one of only a small handful of medicinal or pharmaceutical chemists in the Gulf South region, I seek to serve as a human repository of unique disciplinary expertise.

Brief summary: I endeavor to be a committed scholar, to inspire and lead researchers in-training who are working under my guidance, to obtain the necessary resources to carry out original and significant research projects, to effectively manage the resources entrusted to me by the university and by funding agencies, to assist the work of other scientists when possible, and to actively participate in the scientific community.

• I intend above all to be a committed scholar in the specific discipline of medicinal chemistry; to reiterate, this requires of me . . .
  • to read the scientific literature (all types, including primary literature, trend/review literature, carefully selected trade literature, "popular" science literature, and science news sources);
  • to view and/or listen to scientific presentations;
  • to ponder the implications of the work of others;
  • to continually synthesize new weltanblicken ("worldviews") and cultivate vision based on the results, opinions, and hypotheses of others, and from the results of my own research efforts;
  • to write scientific papers and deliver scientific presentations;
  • to build working networks with other scientists, graduate students, and other individuals directly involved in the research enterprise.

• I seek to obtain the necessary resources to carry out original and significant research projects, via . . .
  • grantwriting;
  • developing industrial collaborations and ties;
  • helping to recommend, secure, and maintain community instrumentation and equipment;
  • arguing the importance of expending some significant fraction of internal resources towards research endeavors, which vastly improve the educational environment and vitality of a university, and constitute the single more important component of a career development for faculty in the sciences.

• I must carefully manage available resources that are brought to bear on the research enterprise, this includes . . .
  • ensuring the care of laboratory space and equipment under my purview;
  • managing extramural and intramural funds;
  • ensuring a safe working environment: health and safety of research personnel must be "Priority #1".

• I hope to inspire and lead researchers working under my guidance, and to mentor and train them so that they become effective instruments for . . .
  • assimilating scientific information from the work of others;
  • gathering new scientific information via their own research efforts;
  • contributing to the scientific community.

• I seek to serve the long-term interests as well as the immediate needs of researchers working under my guidance by . . .
  • giving students' educational goals precedence over my personal goals;
  • above all, fostering independence and creativity;
  • providing an environment that encourages individuals to become valuable members of society.

• It is my duty to participate as a member of the scientific community, by . . .
  • serving on committees and task forces;
  • reviewing manuscripts;
  • evaluating proposals;
  • seeking to influence governmental and societal thought and policies.

• I assist the work of other scientists . . .
  • thereby gaining opportunities for me to grow as a scientist;
  • attempting to foster and contribute to synergy, whereby my personal efforts can be not just additive, but rather, amplified;
  • only in cases when I am relatively confident that such assistance can be competent and can be delivered in a timely fashion, with carefully calculated impact on other priorities (in particular, without incurring excessive frustration of others who depend on me).

IV. My service mission:

I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.

- - Albert Schweizer

• I am obligated to assist in the larger missions of the institutions of which I am a part by effectively contributing my time and expertise. Certainly, I benefit indirectly from doing so, and moreover, I derive great satisfaction when I perceive that my contributions have added value to the lives of others or to institutions, or have helped to effect positive change. However . . .
  • I aspire to never promise more than I can reasonably and effectively deliver, and to never make commitments that I am unwilling or unable to carry through (note: "aspire to . . "!);
  • I seek to identify and pursue areas where I can serve with optimal effectiveness, strive to expend such efforts with greatest possible efficiency, and in general, to minimize the effect of service activities on other aspects of my mission while still contributing my fair share;
  • "Academic freedom" and "tenure" notwithstanding, I try to never forget that I serve at the pleasure of the individuals who sign my paychecks and performance evaluations, so long as their expectations do not violate my fundamental personal values.