Annual Report Text, 1996-1997

Dr. Sanford has had an exciting year both professionally and personally. Last summer she, with the help of students Jon Reeves `97, Jon Charnin `98, Kevin Paulisse `99, LaKeana Jones from Claflin College and Dr. Tom Neils from Grand Rapids Community College, made significant progress in the synthesis of substituted[1.1.1]propellanes as well as poly(arylenevinylenes). Work continued on these projects through the academic year. This research effort helped Dr. Sanford prepare a proposal entitled "The Polymerization of Small and Large Ring Propellanes and the Incorporation of Materials Science into the Hope College Curriculum" which was submitted to the NSF Early CAREER program in the fall and subsequently funded this winter. She is now looking forward to a busy summer with five Hope College student researchers; Larry Mann `97, Irina Arzumanova `00, Carrie Langstraat `99, Angela Perkins `98 and Aimee Kubasiak `99. Dr. Sanford's first summer research students, Joel Nemes, Jon Reeves and Sarah Wilson all graduated this year and are headed off to graduate school.

Dr. Sanford's teaching responsibilities were focused on organic chemistry lecture and laboratory. Next year she will be teaching the senior level "SuperChem" course (Structure, Dynamics and Synthesis).

The biggest change in Dr. Sanford's life occurred on January 10th when she and her husband Jim Timmermann welcomed Daniel Williams Timmermann into the world. Daniel is a happy, healthy little boy who loves to sleep through department meetings.