Dr. Laura Sessions

Professor of Chemistry

Dr. Sessions was born and raised in Winter Park, FL. For undergraduate studies, she enjoyed attending the University of Florida, obtaining a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in French. While there, she performed more than 350 hours of community service with Alpha Phi Omega, worked part-time in the organic chemistry teaching lab, and experienced a couple semesters of research in pharmacology and organic synthesis labs. For graduate studies, Dr. Sessions attended Dartmouth College where she studied synthesis of small organic molecules, polymers, and nanoparticles with a focus on controlled radical polymerization. After completing her Ph.D., Dr. Sessions was very happy to move back to warm, sunny Florida. She taught part-time at Palm Beach Community College (now Palm Beach State College) for three years while performing various duties for the South Florida Science Museum (now Cox Science Center and Aquarium) including science educator, grant writer, and eventually education director. Dr. Sessions was delighted to join the full-time faculty at Valencia College in 2010 and successfully completed the tenure track in 2014. At Valencia, she has served as department chair, multiple terms on Faculty Council, and on numerous committees including Rubric for Online Competencies panels, Teaching/Learning Academy committees, and the Undergraduate Research Advisory Board. She also serves as the Alternate Councilor for the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society.


Contact

Lake Nona Campus
Lake Nona: 1-319
407-582-7138
lsessions@valenciacollege.edu

Hours

SPRING 2024

in office (Lake Nona Campus room 319)
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursdays 9:15-9:45am
Mondays/Tuesdays 2:30pm-3:00pm
Wednesdays 1:00-1:30pm

via Zoom
Mondays 3:30-4:30pm
Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm

via Canvas Inbox/email
F 9:00 am - 2:00 pm or other times by appointment

Teaching Philosophy: Wondering what mixed mode looks like? It is best for students who are good at maintaining a study schedule since there is online work each week in addition to the required face-to-face meeting times. Online work requires you to learn some concepts prior to class to make up for shorter meeting times. Then, we will meet for mini-lectures, problem solving, and interesting applications each week and also for lab. Wondering what mastery grading looks like? You will have multiple attempts to show that you understand each course learning outcome - in online work, and on quizzes, tests, and a final exam. Lab reports will allow you to show mastery of the organic techniques, concepts, and safety. ***Org 1 and Org 2 are each a little different... see the syllabi below my picture for more info***