Last week the department celebrated the upcoming retirement of Biochemistry Professor Gretchen Anderson. Past and current faculty and friends gathered for a heartwarming dinner and the revealing of a scholarship established in honor of her extraordinary efforts as professor, scientist, and department chair at IU South Bend. Anderson holds the scholarship plaque which will soon be placed in Northside Hall to display the names of future scholarship winners.
Gretchen’s retirement from IU South Bend at the end of the semester is the culmination of a career that started with a degree in Medical Technology from SUNY at Albany and blossomed into a calling to teach Biochemistry and mentor undergraduates in her research laboratory. After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1987, Gretchen secured a post-doctoral position at The Ohio State University before coming to IU South Bend as the department’s first full-time biochemist in 1992. She spent summers working in her research lab with undergraduates to study how certain bacteria could be used to detoxify arsenic in the environment.
Gretchen was instrumental in the growth and success of the department; curiosity and persistence were the hallmarks of her time at IU South Bend. She earned all of the teaching awards the campus has to offer for introducing innovative methods in her courses; the crown jewel was the University-wide Herman Frederic Lieber Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence in 2005. Gretchen was equally adept at administration which she proved in her tenure as department chair for nearly two terms. She was also the primary force behind establishing a biochemistry degree in our department which graduated its first students in 2007. The biochemistry degree has become the more popular choice among our majors.
Gretchen made a lasting impact on each and every student who has crossed her path. In the classroom, Gretchen was known for her engaging lecturing style and enthusiasm for all things biochemistry. By incorporating hands-on activities and real-life examples to drive the message home, she made complex ideas easy to understand. Moreover, Gretchen was an excellent mentor to countless students, challenging and inspiring those needing confidence to achieve their best. That her students have excelled as doctors, professors, and leaders in the chemical and biomedical industry is a testament to her heart for mentoring students and commitment to student success. We will miss you immensely!
The Gretchen Anderson Pathways Scholarship will be awarded to a chemistry or biochemistry major who shows potential for a successful career in science with consideration given to academic performance, undergraduate research, participation in campus activities, and overcoming hardships. If you are interested in making a donation to the IU Foundation to support this scholarship, please contact Ms. Dina Harris at (574) 520-4131.
