Norris Background:
Born near Liverpool in England, raised in the environs of the UK rust-belt town of Wigan, and then schooled for his first degree at Salford University in Greater Manchester, Dr. Norris ventured to the USA for his Ph.D. work at Ohio State. That’s where, as a Teaching Assistant, Organic Chemistry started to make sense.
Peter has spent most of his teaching career in the northern US rust-belt at Youngstown State University in Ohio. He has won awards for his approach to teaching Organic Chemistry that emphasizes the use of basic ideas to solve more complex problems. Peter has taught second year, intermediate, and graduate (MS) classes in the subject for almost thirty years. Fifty three MS students have obtained their degree under Peter’s direction, and he has mentored hundreds of undergraduate students who have benefitted from his no-nonsense approach to Organic Chemistry.
Questions about website content should be emailed to dr.peter.norris@gmail.com.
Overview of experience:
B.Sc. in Chemistry (Honours) from Salford University (UK) 1983-86
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from The Ohio State University 1986-1992
Visiting Lecturer, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio 1992-93
Postdoctoral Fellow, American University, Washington DC, 1993-96
Assistant Professor, Youngstown State University, 1996-2000
Asociate Professor (Organic Chemistry), Youngstown State University, 2000-2004
Professor (Organic Chemistry), Youngstown State University, 2004-present
Approach to teaching Organic Chemistry:
Having been educated at state schools in England and then moving to the United States for his graduate work, Dr. Norris has some useful ideas about how to help students approach Organic Chemistry. From smaller classes (<20 students) in the UK, to much bigger classes at Ohio State (>300), he has taken those experiences on board in his own approach to teaching.
Dr. Norris taught recitation and lab classes on large scale while in graduate school at Ohio State (occasionaly standing in for lectures to 300 students), was the lecturer for the sophomore Organic sequence at a much smaller private school (Ohio Wesleyan), and then been through the ranks at YSU where he has taught only Organic Chemistry (at B.S. and M.S. levels) since 1996. He uses online tools extensivewly to deliver information and enhance understanding. His methodical and very organized approach is appreciated by most students.