Dr. Marlena P. Washington

Dr. Washington's mission is to engage students in meaningful learning experiences as it relates to academics and future careers in STEM

Biography

Dr. Washington is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, where she was born, raised, and educated. She attributes her teaching to her love of learning and is driven by not hording her knowledge. Her focus is primarily on her students, where teaching is based on personal mottos: “If you can read and write, you can do anything.” “Get good.” “If you show it, you know it.” “When life gives you lemons, make orange juice and leave the world wondering how you did it.”

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry – Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
• Bachelor of Science in Biology with Honors – John Carroll University, University Heights, OH, USA

Research Interests

• Inorganic chemistry
• Main Group chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• Opto-Electronic Materials

Dr. Washington’s primary research focus is on the synthesis of novel heterocyclic compounds and their possible increased functionality and more favorable energetics for applications in opto-electronic materials.

Experience

After obtaining her Ph.D., Dr. Washington did an appointment as a post-doctoral researcher at Indiana University, under Dr. Mindiola, working on the synthesis of new titanium complexes. Her teaching career officially started one year later at Berry College, in Georgia, where she was a visiting assistant professor of chemistry for three consecutive years. While there, she primarily taught chemistry to non-majors in the hopes of enhancing their appreciation for the subject and academic advising with freshmen STEM majors. For the past two years, Dr. Washington has taught as an assistant professor of chemistry at Claflin University. She teaches courses in General Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry.

Activities and Honors

• Certificate of Excellence in Teaching from the Office of the Provost at Claflin University in 2015
• 2015 Instructor of the Year by the Freshman College at Claflin University
• Member of American Chemical Society

Recent Publications

• Tran, B.L.; Washington, M.P.; Henckel, D.A.; Gao, X.; Pink, M.; Mindiola, D.J. “A Four Coordinate Parent Imide Via a Titanium Nitridyl.” Chem. Comm. 2012, 48, 1529-1531.
• Washington, M.P.; Payton, J.L.; Simpson, M.C.; Protasiewicz, J.D. “Redox Behavior of 2- Substituted 1,3-Benzoxaphospholes and 2,6-Substituted Benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d’]bisoxaphospholes.” Organometallics 2011, 30, 1975-1983.
• Protasiewicz, J.D.; Washington, M.P.; Gudimetla, V.B.; Payton, J.L. Simpson, M.C. “A Closer Look at the Phosphorus-Phosphorus Double Bond Lengths in meta-Terphenyl Substituted Diphosphenes.” Inorg. Chim. Acta 2010, 364, 39-45.
• Washington, M.P.; Gudimetla, V.B.; Laughlin, F.L.; Deligonul, N.; He, S.; Payton, J.L.; Simpson, M.C.; Protasiewicz, J.D. “Phosphorus can also be a ‘Photocopy’.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 4566-4567.
• Gudimetla, V.B.; Ma, L.; Washington, M.P.; Payton, J.L.; Simpson, M.C.; Protasiewicz, J.D. “meta- Terphenyl Phosphaalkenes Bearing Electron Donating and Accepting Groups.” Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2010, 854-865.
• Partyka, D.V.; Deligonul, N.; Washington, M.P.; Gray, T.G. “fac-Tricarbonyl Rhenium(I) Azadipyrromethene Complexes.” Organometallics 2009, 28, 5837-5840.
• Partyka, D.V.; Washington, M.P.; Gray, T.G.; Updegraff, III, J.B.; Turner, J.F.; Protasiewicz, J.D. “Unusual Phosphorus-Phosphorus Double Bond Contraction Upon Mono- and Di-Auration of a Diphosphene.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 10041-10048.
• Partyka, D.V.; Washington, M.P.; Updegraff, III, J.B.; Chen, X.; Incarvito, C.D.; Rheingold, A.L.; Protasiewicz, J.D. “Surveying the {AuCl} Adducts of Bulky Phosphines Bearing the 2,6- Dimesitylphenyl Group.” J. Organomet. Chem. 2009, 694, 1441-1446.
• Partyka, D.V.; Washington, M.P.; Updegraff, III, J.B.; Woloszynek, R.A.; Protasiewicz, J.D. “Synergistic Binding of Both Lewis Acids and Bases to Phosphinidenes.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 7489-7492