Meena Rao

Meena S. Rao is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Barnard College, where she also serves as Director of the Organic Chemistry Labs. She has been a member of the faculty since 1991 and is deeply involved in chemistry education and laboratory administration.

Education:

• B.S., M.S. – Bangalore University, India
• M.Phil., Ph.D. – City University of New York (CUNY)

Her academic focus centers on organic chemistry and laboratory management, with a strong commitment to making science accessible and relevant to everyday life. In her course The Jazz of Chemistry, she emphasizes the creative and dynamic nature of chemical sciences, helping students demystify the role of chemistry in the world around them. She is also engaged in promoting Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage within academic spaces.

There are no recent publications listed in the provided text, so no article trends can be identified at this time.

Service and Leadership:

• Director of Organic Chemistry Labs, Barnard College
• Advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM, particularly supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities

She advises on curriculum development and lab safety protocols, contributing significantly to undergraduate science education at Barnard. While no specific grants are mentioned, her long-standing role suggests sustained institutional support for her educational initiatives.

Dr. Rao maintains active office hours and is accessible to students, reflecting her dedication to mentorship and teaching excellence.