By: John Kim
Hometown: Fitchburg, M.A.
Current position on campus: Associate Professor of Chemistry
What is it about your profession that you enjoy it so greatly?: The constant change
Role Model: Too many real-life role models to name, but for a fictitious role model… Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Education: B.S. in chemistry from Xavier University, Ph.D. in chemistry from Boston College
Hobbies: Cooking and baking
Favorite Animal: Turtle
Favorite Book: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” by J.K. Rowling
Favorite Color: Blue (if you have met Isaac, you will understand why).
Favorite Movie: “Ratatouille”
Favorite Song: “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan
Favorite Sports Teams: Boston Red Sox
Favorite TV Shows: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Legend of Korra”
Favorite On-Campus Meal: Chopped salads
Favorite Off-Campus Meal: Any meal I make for my family, especially if the ingredients are fresh and time is not constrained.
Favorite Aspect of Occupation: The freedom to try new things
Unique Talent: Wrapping presents
Proudest Moment at Holy Cross: Publishing my first scientific paper as the corresponding author.
Something Your Students Do that Frustrate You: Drawing carbon with five bonds (unless they are in Mechanistic Organic Chemistry)
Advice to Your Students: Keep learning—I am happiest on days when I learn something new.
If you can change one thing about Holy Cross, what would it be?: Having more destinations off campus that you can walk to.
What do you admire most about Holy Cross?: The commitment of current and former students to the College.
Funny High School/College Experience: My lowest grade in college was in the subject that I went on to study for my PhD.
Funny Holy Cross Story: I, along with a colleague and very dear friend, have dived into a Holy Cross dumpster to try to save research notebooks that were mistakenly tossed out. Actually, this is more of a sad story since the notebooks were never recovered.
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