Tommy Smith
Chemistry Education major
"I have always loved science and developed a passion for chemistry when I took my first chemistry class in high school. From that point on, I knew I wanted my future career to be in chemistry, but I wasn’t sure what that career would be...
“While I was still deciding what chemistry path I was going to take, I began working with Dr. Yezierski as an undergraduate researcher in chemistry education, and took two education classes; both decisions came to shape my future in unimaginable ways.
“Through working with amazing teachers and having incredible experiences at Miami University, I realized my major in chemistry education opened a door for me to inspire kids and show them the wonders, intricacies, and the beauty of the world around us. For me, science education isn’t about teaching facts: it’s about giving students the opportunity to rediscover and question the world around them, to gaze upon nature in ways they could have never imagined, and most importantly, to unlock the curiosity and wonder that drives everything from the inspiration of the greatest minds, to the mystified and awestruck children who want nothing more than to ask 'why.’
"In addition to my major, I was a member of the Miami University Rowing Club. Although the primary focus of the club is on rowing, they also develop successful student-athletes who give back to the university community through service and leadership."
