Chemistry Lab Manager Denise Beautreau Named as Director of Student Access The Department of Chemistry is pleased to share the news of the appointment of Denise Beautreau as the new Director of Student Access in the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity. Beautreau came to Lehigh in February of 2013 as the General Chemistry Labs Manager. A native of the Dominican Islands, Denise received her BS in Biochemistry from SUNY Plattsburgh and her MS in Biochemistry from Long Island University. In addition to her teaching assistant experience gained at both universities, she also played a role in student instruction while serving as laboratory manager at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York and Mercy College. An advocate for showing students not just the intricacies of chemical interactions--but also the many avenues available to all through STEM education, Denise is an annual contributor to the American Association of University Women's "Explore Your Opportunities" Conference. Always an enthusiastic Lehigh staffer, Denise is a past winner of Lehigh’s Club/Organization Advisor of the Year award for her leadership of Alpha Chi Sigma chemistry fraternity and Lehigh’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. In her new role, Beautreau will be working with the American Talent Initiative and advise the F1RST Club for first-generation students. Retirement Best Wishes to learn new things at every opportunity and soon became a valued resource--not only for the department--but also for hundreds of faculty, staff and students who relied on her knowledge and expertise-- all provided with a generous nature and a willingness to help those in need. For this and so many other reasons, Sharon will be greatly missed--but fondly wished the best of everything in her future endeavors. With three grandchildren (including a set of 5-year old twins and a 2-1/2 year old grandson), a new daughterin-law, and many friends and family in the area, she will be busy for many years to come in connecting and reconnecting with loved ones. An avid reader and outstanding cook, Sharon's days will be very full in sharing the joie de vivre of life! Libby Seyfried joined the Chemistry Department as the Business Manager last October. She began at Lehigh in January 2019 as the Financial Coordinator in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She holds a B.S in Economics and a Master’s of Business Administration, and has gained experience in the corporate sector working primarily with retirement funds, auditing, and financial reporting. She enjoys bicycling, hiking and kayaking adventures with her family, listening to Indie music, and reading. New Business Manager Libby Seyfried On December 31, 2020, Sharon Zurick began a new chapter in her life as a retiree from Lehigh University after 22 years of exceptional professional and greatlyappreciated service. Joining Lehigh in 1998 as a Lab Store Logistics Coordinator, Sharon continued STAFF NEWS Page 20 · Lehigh University Although the global pandemic has delayed the process, the department will be installing a new general chemistry labs manager in the near future--but wishes to recognize the outstanding work done by Interim General Chemistry Lab Instructor Cynthia Fianu-Velgus who stepped into the role at a very challenging time. A predoc research associate in the Heindel Lab, Cynthia has been central to the efforts to transition the on-campus labs to a socially-distanced, staggered schedule, safety-first environment that still provides the "hands-on" laboratory experience so vital to student learning and comprehension.
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