Renée Cole, professor and departmental executive officer of the Department of Chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), has been named the Herman J. and Eileen S. Schmidt Chair for 2026 to 2031.

Endowed every five years, this named chair appointment recognizes excellence in undergraduate teaching, mentoring, and curriculum development.

“Professor Renée Cole is most deserving of this honor. She has focused on understanding and improving the learning experience for undergraduate students in critical introductory chemistry courses, and she has shared that expertise across the college, impacting other departments who teach key introductory courses in the sciences,” said Cornelia Lang, associate dean for undergraduate education.

Cole’s research focuses on chemistry education, helping educators create effective learning experiences, and advancing knowledge of how students learn. Through her work, she has built an internationally recognized career, serving as the U.S. representative to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry's Committee on Chemistry Education.

Cole is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Chemical Society. Within CLAS, her accomplishments include receiving the Collegiate Teaching Award in 2021 and being named a Collegiate Fellow for 2018–2020.

The Herman J. and Eileen S. Schmidt Chair appointment includes $10,000 annually in discretionary funding to support teaching and research activities.

Cole said the funding will provide opportunities to support student conference participation, professional development, and the broader dissemination of her research on effective teaching practices.

“[The recognition] was very exciting as we don't have a lot of endowed professorships in CLAS,” said Cole. “To have one focused on improving teaching, when that often doesn't get the same kind of recognition as other kinds of research—I think it adds visibility for the work that I do, which is great.”

Cole was recognized during the CLAS Teaching Excellence Showcase on Oct. 23. As part of the recognition, Cole gave a keynote address at the event on collaborative efforts to develop university resources that help faculty navigate the use of artificial intelligence in education.