Jennifer Loertscher

Jennifer Loertscher is the Interim Dean of the College of Science and Engineering and Professor of Chemistry at Seattle University. She holds a dual B.A. in Chemistry and German Literature from Grinnell College (1996), a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from the University of Wisconsin, and completed postdoctoral work in biochemistry at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on biochemistry education innovation, particularly developing active learning strategies and assessing student understanding of foundational concepts. She co-authored the widely-used Foundations of Biochemistry textbook and pioneered threshold concept identification in biochemistry education.

Prof. Loertscher's work emphasizes student-centered pedagogy, having designed over 30 faculty development workshops on active learning implementation. As a Faculty Associate with the Center for Jesuit Education, she integrates Jesuit educational principles into STEM teaching practices. Her research group examines instructional practices' impact on student learning outcomes, particularly in large-enrollment courses. Key contributions include validated assessment tools for protein structure understanding and metabolic dynamics, as well as national certification exams for biochemistry proficiency.

Her career spans nearly 20 years of teaching chemistry and biochemistry, maintaining strong engagement with both undergraduate education and faculty professional development. Current initiatives focus on sustaining student-centered teaching practices through institutional change models and fostering interdisciplinary approaches to science education.