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Department: College of Letters Arts and Sciences

Megan Lazorski

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Megan Lazorski, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Metropolitan State University of Denver and joint appointee at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Her areas of expertise include the study of special metal complexes, understanding how these materials convert light energy into other forms of energy. This work involves the use of lasers and other scientific instruments to learn how these materials respond to light under different conditions. Her major research area centers on the examination of photoactivity of materials when hit by light to understand their behavior for potential commercial applications in products like solar panels.

Lazorski’s teaching practice focuses on inorganic chemistry and the advancement of diversity in STEM, with a particular emphasis on supporting students and scientists from underrepresented/minoritized (URM) backgrounds. This work led Lazorski to form a group of colleagues who’ve created two post-baccalaureate Bridge Experience programs for students from URM groups in STEM. Lazorski is also a co-author of “Changing the Charge: Electrostatic Effects in Pd-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling” and “1FLO: Electron Counting and Electrostatic Effects in Palladium Carborane Complexes.” Both works are featured on the Virtual Inorganic Pedagogical Electronic Resource.

Lazorski’s professional experience includes serving as the faculty associate for curriculum in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, and she has taken on the role of chair of the curriculum committee in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Additionally, she maintains affiliations with several notable professional organizations, including the American Chemical Society, Inter-American Photochemical Society, and the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.

Lazorski received her doctorate of Chemistry from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Studio Art from the College of Wooster.

Arturo Jimenez

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John Masserini

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Tom Cech

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Tom Cech, M.A., is the founding director of the One World One Water Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He retired from the University in 2021. Cech’s areas of expertise include water resources management and development, water education, water history, water law and water policy.

Cech was the executive director of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District in Greeley for nearly 29 years. He also taught undergraduate and graduate level courses on water resources at University of Northern Colorado and Colorado State University for 11 years before joining MSU Denver in 2011. Cech received the Education and Public Service award in 2016 and the Diane Hoppe Leadership award in 2018.

As an expert source, he has authored/co-authored several published books including “Principles of Water Resources: History, Development, Management and Policy,” “Introduction to Water Resources and Environmental Issues” and “Colorado Water Law for Non-Lawyers.”

Cech received a master’s in community and regional planning from University of Nebraska, Lincoln and a bachelor’s in math education from University of Nebraska at Kearney.