Nichole Powell

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Contact

770.784.8396

Nichole L. Powell is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Oxford College of Emory University. She is passionate about exposing students to the research process by challenging them with problems that are difficult, yet within their reach, and allowing them to learn by making their own mistakes. Her research interests include the synthesis and evaluation of natural product analogs as potential therapeutic agents as well as the incorporation of scientific inquiry into the first and second-year curriculum and the investigation of ways for improving the teaching and learning of chemistry. An advocate for science literacy and diversity initiatives, she serves as the Chair of the Minority Affairs Committee - Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society and is also involved in efforts at Emory University related to Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. She has been honored for excellence in teaching by Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Beta Kappa and has twice been the recipient of the Mizell Award for exceptional contribution to the education of Oxford College students.

Education

BSc| University of the West Indies (Mona)| 1995

Ph.D.| Georgia State University| 2003

Courses Taught

Chemistry 100Q

Chemistry 141; Chemistry 150

Chemistry 142Q; Chemistry 202

Chemistry 150

Chemistry 202

Chemistry 204

Chemistry 397R

Chemistry 399R

Accomplishments

American Chemical Society's National ChemLuminary Award for Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs Committee. 2019
American Chemical Society's Salute to Excellence. 2018
Emory Scholars Graduating Senior Recognition 2018
100 Honorary Senior Faculty Recognition 2018
Mizell Award, Oxford College 2017
Visiting Summer Faculty (Georgia Institute of Technology) 2016
Mizell Award, Oxford College 2016
100 Honorary Senior Faculty Recognition 2014
Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Recognition 2013
Phi Theta Kappa Teaching Award 2013
Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Recognition 2012
Morehouse School of Medicine/Tuskegee University/ University of Alabama Cancer Center Partnership Research Training Fellowship 2006-2007
UNCF/MERCK Summer Faculty Fellowship 2006
Outstanding Teaching Award, Georgia State University 2002, 2003
Phi Beta Delta Honor Society International Scholar 2000-2003
Caricom Heads of Government Scholarship 1996

Publications

Selected Publications:

Maurer, T. W.; Woolmer, C.; Powell, N. L.; Sisson, C.; Snelling, C.; Stalheim, O. R.; Turner, I. J. Sharing SoTL Findings with Students: An Intentional Knowledge Mobilization Strategy. Teaching & Learning Inquiry 2021, 9 (1).
Powell, N. L. Navigating the STEM Professoriate as a Black Woman: Surviving but at What Cost? In Overcoming Barriers for Women of Color in STEM Fields: Emerging Research and Opportunities; IGI Global, 2020; pp 100–115. (Invited Submission, Peer Reviewed)
McGill, T. L.; Williams, L. C.; Mulford, D. R.; Blakey, S. B.; Harris, R. J.; Kindt, J. T.; Lynn, D. G.; Marsteller, P. A.; McDonald, F. E.; Powell, N. L. Chemistry Unbound: Designing a New Four-Year Undergraduate Curriculum. Journal of Chemical Education 2018, 96 (1), 35–46.
Powell, N. L.; Harmon, B. B. Course-Embedded Undergraduate Research Experiences: The Power of Strategic Course Design. In The Power and Promise of Early Research; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society, 2016; Vol. 1231, pp 119–136. (Invited Submission, Peer Reviewed)
Powell, N. L.; Harmon, B. B.; MacMillan, M. Student-generated data – Trends in the 2014 Conference Program. Web blog post. International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. 16 July 2015.
Powell, N. L.; Harmon, B. B. Two-Year Community: Developing ScientistsA Multiyear Research Experience at a Two-Year College. Journal of College Science Teaching 2014, 44 (2), 11–17.
Apalangya, V. A.; Bakupog, T.; Tutson, C.; Sefadzi, S.; Early, B.; Troy, R. M.; Curry, M. L.; Robinson, P. M.; Powell, N. L.; Russell, A. E. Inhibition of MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation by Simple Diphenyl Chalcone and Its Chlorinated Derivative. Research & Reviews: Journal of Oncology and Hematology 2012, 1 (7).
Robinson, P. M.; Powell, N. L.; Russell, A. E. Science on Saturdays: Answering an SOS through Outreach in inChemistry. September/October 2009.
Gadda, G.; Powell, N. L.; Menon, P. The Trimethylammonium Headgroup of Choline Is a Major Determinant for Substrate Binding and Specificity in Choline Oxidase. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 2004, 430 (2), 264–273.
Powell, N. L. N. Bacterial Choline -Oxidizing Systems: Characterization of Enzymes Involved in Stress Tolerance, and, The Roles of Cytochrome P450s 1A1, 1A2, 2D6, and the GSTM1 Genes in Treatment -Resistant Depression. Ph.D., Georgia State University, United States Georgia. 2003
Powell, N. L.; Fan, F.; Wilkins, L.; , Gadda, G. Comparative Study of Choline Oxidizing Enzymes From Escherichia coli, Halomonas elongata, and Arthrobacter globiformis, Flavins and Flavoproteins 2002, 149-154.
Simon, O. R.; Powell, N.; Davis, P.; Gossell, M . Evidence That Guanylate Cyclase Is Involved in Modulating the Resting Tension and Neurally-Induced Contraction of the Guinea Pig Tracheal Muscle. The West Indian Medical Journal 1996, 45 (3), 89–91.

Presentations

Selected Oral Presentations:

N.L. Powell, P. Scott-Johnson, S. Obare, P. Leggett-Robinson, and T. Jackson,'Increasing Opportunities for Racial Equity in STEM Departments through Reflection and Thoughtful Conversations,' 107th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities Revolutionizing Higher Ed After Covid-19. 2021
N.L. Powell, A. White, P. Scott-Johnson, S. Obare, P. Leggett-Robinson, and T. Jackson, 'Academic Developmental Milestones: Facilitating Productivity for URM Women,' Association of American Colleges and Universities 2020 Virtual Conference on Transforming STEM Higher Education:THIS Changes Everything. 2020
T. W. Maurer, N. Powell, C. Sisson, C. Snelling, O. R. Stalheim, I. Turner, and C. Woolmer, 'Sharing the Findings of SoTL with Students,' SoTL Commons, Savannah, GA. Feb. 2020.
N. L. Powell, B. Harmon, and D. Das, 'A Bio-molecule Course-based Research Experience for Ssophomores,' Southeast Regional Meeting of American Chemical Society (SERMACS), Savannah, GA. Oct. 2019.
D. Das, B. Harmon, A. Neuman, S. Nkomo, N. Powell, and A. Scharf, 'Identifying Barriers Between Expert and Novice: Curriculum Development Based on Threshold Concepts,' Meeting of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (ISSOTL), Atlanta, GA. Oct. 2019. (Peer Reviewed)
N. L. Powell and M. Pascoe*, 'Breaking Down Communication Barriers: Helping Students Create Meaning from Experimental Evidence,' Meeting of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (ISSOTL), Atlanta, GA. Oct. 2019. (Peer Reviewed)
N. L. Powell,'The Brady Effect on Minorities in STEM,' ACS Plaque Dedication Ceremony for St. Elmo Brady[1] at Tuskegee University. March 13, 2019 [1] St. Elmo Brady is the first African American to receive a PhD. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois. The American Chemical Society is honoring his legacy during 2019 with a National Historic Chemical Landmark. Plaques are being installed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and at the HBCUs where he taught.
N. L. Powell and B. Harmon, 'Redesigning the first two years of the undergraduate laboratory curriculum: The Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) framework as a unifying theme,' 2018 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE), University of Notre Dame, IN. July 2018.
T. McGill, L. C. Williams, D. Mulford, S. Blakey, J. Kindt, D.G. Lynn, P. Marsteller, F.E. McDonald, N.L. Powell, and R. J. Harris, ' Designing, Implementing, and Assessing a New Four-Year Undergraduate Curriculum,' Department of Chemistry, University of California at San Diego. 2018
T. McGill, L. C. Williams, D. Mulford, S. Blakey, J. Kindt, D.G. Lynn, P. Marsteller, F.E. McDonald, N.L. Powell, and R. J. Harris, 'Catalyzing Departmental and Institutional Change: Challenges, Opportunities, and Rewards of Curricular Reform,' The Center for Advancing Multidisciplinary Scholarship for Excellent in Education. 2018
R.J. Harris, S. Blakey, F. Frank, J. Kindt, D.G. Lynn, P. Marsteller, F.E. McDonald, T.L. McGill, D.R. Mulford, N.L. Powell, and L.C. Williams, 'Redefining undergraduate chemistry – Chemistry Unbound: Approach, challenges, and assessment,' 2018 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE), University of Notre Dame, IN. July 2018.
L.C. Williams, S. Blakey, F. Frank, R. Harris, J. Kindt, D.G. Lynn, P. Marsteller, F.E. McDonald, T.L. McGill, D.R., Mulford, and N.L. Powell, 'Redefining undergraduate chemistry – Chemistry Unbound, the first year,' 2018 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE), University of Notre Dame, IN. July 2018.
N. L. Powell and B. Harmon,'Developing Scientists: Course-Embedded Research Experiences Focused on Student Learning,' Outstanding Women in Science Symposium at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dec. 2016. (Invited Speaker)
N.L. Powell, 'An Overview of SoTL.' New Faculty Orientation. Oxford College. August 2016.
B. B. Harmon and N. L. Powell, 'Using Signature Pedagogies to Identify a "Toolkit" for Disciplinary Habits of Mind,' Meeting of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (ISSOTL), Los Angeles, CA. Oct. 12-15 2016. (Peer Reviewed)
N. L. Powell and B. Harmon, 'Developing Scientists: The Power of Strategic Course Design,' 2016 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, University of Northern Colorado, Greenly, CO. (July 30 – August 4) 2016
N. L. Powell, 'Putting the “Q?” in INQuiry: An Undergraduate Research Project Connecting General and Organic Chemistry Teaching Laboratories,' Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford, GA. 2013
B. Harmon and N. L. Powell, 'Synthesis and Testing of Possible Anticancer Compounds: Undergraduate Research Connecting General and Organic Chemistry Teaching Laboratories,' 2012 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Pennsylvania State University, PA. 2012
N. L. Powell, 'Using Student Created Presentations to Enhance the Learning Experience in a General Chemistry Course,' 242nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Denver, CO. 2011
F. Musa, B. Young, A. Russell, N. Powell, and P. Leggett-Robinson, 'Introduction to Organic Chemistry: The Effects of Substituents and Their Position on the Physical Properties of Mono-substituted trans-Chalcones,' LSAMP Fall Forum, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. 2010
N. L. Powell, A. E. Russell, B. G. Rackley, G. Pritchett, and P. M. Leggett-Robinson, 'Enhancing the Science Curriculum of K-12 Students,' 35th Annual Conference of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), Philadelphia, PA. 2008
N. L. Powell, G. Pritchett, B. G. Rackley, P. M. Leggett-Robinson, and A. E. Russell, 'Science on Saturday: Fostering a Love of Science in K-8 Students,' 34th Annual Conference of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), Orlando, FL. 2007
N. L. Powell and G. Pritchett, 'Improving the General Chemistry Experience for Non-Science Majors,' 84th Annual Meeting of the Alabama Academy of Science (AAS), Tuskegee University, AL. 2007
N. L. Powell and G. Pritchett, 'Incorporating Novel Methods to Teach General Chemistry to Non-Science Majors,' 33rd Annual Conference of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), Los Angeles, CA. 2006
N. L. Powell, 'Chemistry: Ways to Help Them ‘Get It',' Strategies for Success Workshop (Benjamin Cummings Science Workshop), Auburn, Alabama. (Invited Presentation) 2005
N. L. Powell and G. Gadda, 'Cloning, Expression, Purification and Kinetic Parameters of Choline Dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli,' Southeast Regional Meeting of ACS (SERMACS), Charleston, SC. 2002

Selected Poster Presentations: (*undergraduate author,# hugh school author)

D. Li*, B. Harmon, and N. L. Powell, 'A Student as Partners Investigation: What Happens On the Pathway To Crossing a Threshold Concept?' Meeting of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (ISSOTL), Virtually in Australia Oct. 2021. (Peer Reviewed)
M. Pascoe* and N. L. Powell, 'Exploring the Learning Process and Culture in an Electronic Notebook Based First-Semester Chemistry Laboratory Course,' Oxford Research Scholars Symposium. Oxford, GA. 2019
N. L. Powell, 'Painting a Picture of the Learning Process and Culture in Electronic and Hand Notetaking Environments,' Meeting of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (ISSOTL), Norway. Oct. 2018. (Peer Reviewed)
Y. Xu*, N. L. Powell, and B. Harmon, 'Synthesis of Isoxazole-type Analog of Combretastatin A-4 in Ionic Liquid [bmim] BF4,' Southeast Regional Meeting of American Chemical Society (SERMACS), Charlotte, NC. 2017
'Synthesis of Isoxazole-type Analog of Combretastatin A-4 in Ionic Liquid [bmim] BF4.' Y. Xu*, N. L. Powell, and B. Harmon. Oxford Research Scholars Symposium. Oxford, GA. 2017
S. Noda*, A. Gorrai*, B. Harmon and N. L. Powell, 'Rapid Screening of a Series of Possible Antitumor Compounds Using DNA Binding Ability.' Oxford Research Scholars Symposium. Oxford, GA. 2017
T. McGill, R.J. Harris, D. Mulford, S. Blakey, J. Kindt, D.G. Lynn, P. Marsteller, F.E. McDonald, N.L. Powell, and L.C. Williams, 'The Iterative Process of Curricular and Pedagogical Reform,' Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Constellation Studio. Chevy Chase, MD. 2016
Y. Cao*, Y. Alsalihi* and N. L. Powell, 'Synthesis of Chalcone Analogs with Potential Anti-Cancer Activity,' Oxford Research Scholars Symposium. Oxford, GA. 2016
A. Putri*, B. B. Harmon and N. L. Powell, 'Refining Methods for Rapidly Screening a Series of Oxazoles for DNA-binding Ability,' Oxford Research Scholars Symposium. Oxford, GA. 2016
M. Stofberg*, B. Harmon, and N. L. Powell, 'One Pot Suzuki Coupling Synthesis of Substituted Isoxazoles under Green Microwave Conditions,' Joint Southeast and Southwestern Regional Meeting of American Chemical Society (SERMACS), Memphis, TN. 2015
M. Stofberg*, B. Harmon, and N. L. Powell, 'One Pot Suzuki Coupling Synthesis of Substituted Isoxazoles under Green Microwave Conditions,' Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at Emory University (SURE), Atlanta, GA. 2015
E. Harmon#, M. Pascoe#, and N. L. Powell, 'Investigation of Various Buffers and Compounds for DNA Binding Ability.' Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at Emory University (SURE) Presentation at Oxford College, Oxford, GA. 2015
J. Broniec* and N. L. Powell, 'Process of Fitting the McGhee and von Hippel Equation to an Ethidium Bromide-DNA Forward Titration,' Oxford Research Scholars Symposium. Oxford, GA. 2015
L. Dietter* and N. L. Powell, 'Synthesis and Characterization of Monosubstituted and Disubstituted Chalcones,' Oxford Research Scholars Symposium. Oxford, GA. 2015
N. L. Powell, 'Developing Scientists: Fostering Commitment, Perseverance, and Tolerance for Uncertainty by Embedding Authentic Research into a General Chemistry Course,' Meeting of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (ISSOTL), Quebec, Canada. October 2014. (Peer Reviewed)
A. Suguro* and N. Powell, 'Preliminary Studies on the DNA Binding Ability of Various Mono- and Di-substituted Chalcones,' Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at Emory University (SURE), Atlanta, GA. 2014
Y. Zhang*, S. Son*, and N. L. Powell, 'Microwave-assisted Synthesis of 4 and 4'-substituted 3,5-diphenylisoxazoles,' Southeast Regional Meeting of ACS (SERMACS), Atlanta, GA. 2013
Y. Zhang* and N. Powell, 'Green Chemistry: Synthesis of 3,5-diphenylisoxazole Using Microwave Irradiation,' Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at Emory University (SURE), Atlanta, GA. 2013
S. Son* and N. Powell, 'Microwave Assisted Synthesis of 4 and 4'-Substituted 3,5-Diphenylisoxazoles,' Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at Emory University (SURE), Atlanta, GA. 2012 (Honorable Mention)
G. Alvarez*, Q. Tran*, and N. Powell, 'Effects of Various 4 and 4'-Monosubstituted Chalcones and Their Diaryl-Isoxazole Derivatives on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Cultures,' 242nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Denver, CO. 2011
Q. Tran*, G. Alvarez*, P. Nguyen*, R. Patel*, and N. Powell, 'Synthesis and Characterization of 4 and 4'-Substituted Chalcones and Their Corresponding Diaryl-Isoxazoles,' 242nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Denver, CO. 2011
G. Alvarez* and N. Powell, 'Synthesis of 3,5-Diaryl-Isoxazoles and Measurement of the Cytotoxic Potency of Mono-Substituted Chalcones and Their Isoxazole Derivatives,' Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at Emory University (SURE), Atlanta, GA. 2011
M. Henderson, N. L. Powell, and R. M. Troy, 'The Effect of Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP6) on the Proliferation of the Frog Renal Adenocarcinoma PNKT-4B Cell Line,' 35th Annual Conference of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), Philadelphia, PA. 2008
S. Brundidge, V. Williams, A. E. Russell, N. L. Powell and Pamela M. Leggett-Robinson, 'Research Experience for Teachers RET at Tuskegee University: Enhancing Science Education through Natural Product Chemistry Research,' Southeast Regional Meeting of ACS (SERMACS), Greenville, SC. 2007
T. Wallace*, I. Johnson-Mayo, N. L. Powell, and R. M. Troy, 'The Effect of Inositol Hexaphosphate on the Proliferation of the MDA-MB-468 Breast Cancer Cell Line,' Southeast Regional Meeting of American Chemical Society (SERMACS), Greenville, SC. 2007