Serendip's Togo connection
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| Serendip's Togo connection |
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Susan graduated from Dartmouth College in 1977 with a AB in Chemistry.
After teaching physics (with a little chemistry) for three years as a Peace
Corps volunteer in Togo, and briefly teaching high school mathematics in
the United States, Susan enrolled in a graduate program in physical
chemistry with the ultimate goal of teaching on the college level. In her
first semester at The Johns Hopkins University, she took a course in
biophysical chemistry, and became fascinated with the idea that even large
biomolecules obey the laws of physics and chemistry, suggesting that maybe
life does as well. This fascination was the core of Susan's ongoing
commitment to both research and teaching, and to a life of blending the
two. She joined the faculty at Bryn Mawr College in 1991 as an Assistant
Professor, was promoted to Associate Professor (with tenure) in 1997, and
was named chair of the Chemistry Department in 1999. Susan's current research
focuses on two classes of biological macromolecules, RNA and protein, and
on the interactions between them, and is supported by a grant from the
National Institutes of Health.
Teaching Togo's rigorous science curriculum to many bright, young Togolese
students further stimulated Susan's interest in science and science
education. While in the classroom and at Peace Corps teacher training
sessions ways of improving student's problem-solving skills, introducing
them to experiments, and encouraging their active participation were
discussed. At Bryn Mawr College these discussions continue with colleagues
from a wide variety of disciplines.
At the Lycée de Dayes, Susan met Mr. KOSSI Mawoussi (in Togo, last
names are given first and capitalized), a German teacher who had earlier
taught at Lycée de Pya located just north of Kara. After leaving
Lycée de Dayes, Mr. KOSSI taught for eight years in Kpalimé,
several years in Bassar, Badou, and Notsé and was then promoted to
Assistant Principal in Vogan, just north of Aného. After two years
in Vogan, Mr KOSSI became Principal of a new school
in Tohoun, where Susan visited and taught during her most recent
trips to Togo. It is this school which we hope to both learn from and
contribute to on this website.
(Map modified from one available at Encarta OnLine).
TEACHING
Susan teaches a variety of courses at Bryn Mawr College, including General
Chemistry (Preview via Blackboard) and Biochemistry, as well as advanced courses in
biochemistry. Like most College faculty, she also supervises both
undergraduates and graduate students doing research in her laboratory. In
addition, Susan has worked with Philadelphia precollege science teachers in
an annual summer program.
After intensive Peace Corps training in French and pedagogy in
Sokodé, in central Togo, and Lomé, the capital city on the
coast, Susan was assigned to Lycée d'Amlamé, about 30 km
southest of Atakpamé (about halfway between the two). She spent two
years teaching physics and chemistry in this small town at the base of the
mountains. Fruits, such as oranges, bananas, avocados, and pineapples were
plentiful. During her third year she taught at Lycée de Dayes in
the mountains north
of Kpalimé. The climate was cooler, coffee and cocoa were the
major cash crops, and mosquitos and malaria were less of a concern.
