Professor Jim Klent excelled as an undergraduate while at Loyola University Chicago.  He received the prestigious Father Morrissey award twice, once for excellence in organic chemistry and once for excellence in physical chemistry.  After graduating from Loyola University Chicago, Professor Klent attended Catholic University where he worked under the prominent F. O. Rice on free radical projects.  After receiving an M.S., he started a long and illustrious career in education by becoming a high school teacher, which led him into work in the community colleges.   Very soon he assumed a creative leadership role.  After a year at Central Oregon Community College, he was hired as a founding faculty member of a brand new community college, Ohlone Community College, at Fremont California.  As a founding faculty member, he designed the chemistry curriculum as well as the layout of the chemistry laboratories.

 

 

 

 

 

Then he assumed a leadership role in the founding of the Ohlone faculty senate and was a leader in the establishment of a statewide faculty senate for the state of California.  He continued in leadership roles by serving on boards of trustees, etc.  Prominent among these services was a four-summer stint as the Coordinator for the Institute of Chemical Education at Berkeley. 

 

 

 

Professor Klent has received many honors.  He was twice nominated for the ACS Catalyst award, and he was honored on four occasions with an “Outstanding Teacher Award.” Upon retirement, Ohlone named the general chemistry laboratory the “Jim Klent Laboratory,” and a scholarship for the outstanding first year chemistry student was established in his name.

Jim Klent, the family man, is best described by the picture of the four generations of Klents.

 

It is our pleasure to SPOTLIGHT one of our old professor friends.  He has contributed extensively to our profession and to chemical education.

Happy retirement, Jim!

The Loyola University Chicago Chemistry Faculty