About Dr. Pursell

About Dr. Pursell

Let’s have some fun!

I joined the GGC faculty in 2007 from the University of Pennsylvania, where I was the executive director of Penn Chemistry. I served as GGC’s Associate Dean for the School of Science and Technology from 2007-2010 and then as the Administrator of Part Time Science Faculty from 2010-2012, when I returned to full-time faculty duties. I’ve taught college courses in all areas of chemistry, environmental law, military strategy and advanced technologies in military operations. For 25 years, I served worldwide as a U.S. Army combat engineer with key assignments as company commander at Fort Drum, NY; battalion plans and operations officer on the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ); speechwriter for a three-star general; tactics faculty member at the Army’s staff college; and chemistry faculty member at the U.S. Military Academy. With an Army fellowship, I completed my Ph.D. studies in the field of chemical physics at Penn under the direction of Professor Hai-Lung Dai.

Post-Army Highlights:
• $3.5 million in research grant funding as principal investigator (PI) or co-PI since joining GGC
• Visiting Scientist, BioBlend Renewable Resources, 2020
• Yale University Scientific Teaching Fellow, 2019-2020
• GGC Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, 2018
• Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Scholar, 2015–2016
• Top Claw Award for Excellence, Georgia Gwinnett College, 2015
• Visiting Scientist, PerkinElmer Instruments Technical Center, 2013
• National Blackboard © Catalyst Award for innovation in the use of mobile technology to positively impact the student educational experience, 2012
• Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) Excalibur Award for the best use of technology for challenges in business and education, 2011
• GGC Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, 2010