Grove City College professor of chemistry Dr. Charles E. Kriley ’88 was named the 2016 Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Professor of the Year at a ceremony in Harbison Chapel on Thursday, April 28.

“This award is a great honor to me.  It is always nice to have your hard work appreciated, but for me it is also an honor for the many people who took the time to encourage me for so many years,” Kriley said.

Kriley graduated from Grove City College in 1988 with a degree in chemistry. He earned his doctorate in inorganic chemistry from Purdue University in 1993. He joined the faculty of Grove City College in 1996.

Over the 20 years that Kriley has been with the College, he has taught such courses as General Chemistry, Techniques in Chemistry Laboratory Instruction, Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory and Crystal Structure Analysis.

“I would be hard pressed to think of another faculty member who has served the college in such varied capacities as Dr. Kriley,” Dr. Timothy C. Homan, chair of the Chemistry Department, said. “He has faithfully taught his courses, directed undergraduate research students, taken students to national chemistry meetings, led and taught international courses and provided outreach to the community. I am pleased he has been recognized with this award.”

Kriley’s areas of expertise include inorganic and organometallic chemistry, water chemistry, and cancer research. In the classroom, he is admired for his dedication to the work of student researchers. He has published articles on inorganic/organometallic chemistry and conducted research on fracking, cancer and the synthesis and characterization of metal phosphines.  

Kriley is a member of the American Chemical Society and Omicron Delta Kappa, Kemikos, Grove City’s local honorary chemistry fraternity, and Phi Lambda Upsilon National Chemical Honorary.

He also serves as the faculty coordinator for the annual “Chem Show” presented by students each year, which provides an avenue for community outreach to elementary students in the region.

Kriley invests time with students outside of the classroom, as well. He serves as advisor to the Rho Rho Rho housing group, the College’s nationally-ranked Newman Club and, though he never played the game, the College’s rugby team, which he also coaches. He has been recognized with a variety of awards for his professional accomplishments and his community involvement, including the Florence E. MacKenzie Campus-Community Award.

The Professor of the Year was initiated in 2000 by the Omicron Delta Kappa campus leadership honorary and is sponsored by the Grove City College Alumni Association. Past winners include: Dr. H. Colin Messer (2015), Dr. Constance Nichols ’93 (2014), Dr. Paul Kemeny (2013), Dr. Erik Anderson (2012), Dr. Mark Graham (2011), Betsy (Boak ’77) Craig (2010), Dr. Eric Potter (2009), Dr. David Jones (2008), Larry Fleming (2007), Dr. Ralph Carlson ’62 (2006), Dr. James Bibza (2005), Richard Leo (2004), Dr. James Dixon (2003), Dr. Timothy Homan (2002), Dr. John Sparks ’66 (2001) and Dr. Gary Smith ’72 (2000).