Leslie Sherman

Faculty
  • W. Alton Jones Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science • Chair, Department of Chemistry

Headshot

Campus Service
  • Co-advisor, Kappa Alpha Omicron, Environmental Science and Studies Honor Society
  • Chair, Service and Scholarship Committee

Teaching is truly a love of mine. My parents were both educators. However, it was not until I was teaching physics and chemistry in the Peace Corps in West Africa that I realized that I wanted to become an educator myself. At Washington College, I have been able to realize this goal, and I find myself still grateful that I am able to work with students every day. Washington College has been a perfect fit for me. With my dual appointment in the Chemistry and Environmental Science/Studies departments, I have been able to develop and teach classes in both fields and at their intersection. Having the Chester River and the River and Field Campus (RAFC) as outdoor laboratories has been unparalleled. 

I have been fortunate to be involved in four research projects over the years. My primary project has been my long-term work out at the grassland restoration at the RAFC where I study the soil quality and carbon sequestration. This project has allowed me to apply my long-term interest in the impact of land use changes on soil quality at a local site. In addition, I enjoyed working with a fellow ENV colleague and a Washington College post-doctoral student on a study of metals in the sediments of the Chester River. While on one of my sabbiticals, I studied pineapple plantations in Costa Rica, which gave me the opportunity to study tropical soils for the first time. Most recently, I delved into an interesting cover crop project with another ENV colleague and researchers at the University of Maryland. I continue to involve students in the study of nearby Urieville Lake which is challenged by nutrient overenrichment.


Education

  • B.A. Carleton College
  • M.S.C.E. University of Minnesota 
  • Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison

 


Academic Expertise

  • Environmental Chemistry

Both environmental science and chemistry students have been deeply involved in my research at the River and Field Campus and at Urieville Lake. I let them choose their research question and develop their own project! For example, currently I have a student looking at trace metals in the grassland restoration soils. Last year I had a student investigating phosphorus cycling the lake. There are so many interesting questions to research!

W. Alton Jones Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry 2007-present (Chair Fall 2021 –present), and Department of Environmental Science and Studies (Chair, 2012-2019), Washington College. Teach courses in chemistry and environmental science. Conduct research on soil quality of a grassland restoration and trace metals in sediments. Led the successful transformation of the Environmental Studies Program to become a department and development of an environmental science major. 

Assistant Professor, Departments of Chemistry and Environmental Studies Program, Washington College. 2000-2007. Developed and taught two courses with laboratories in environmental chemistry for non-majors and for science majors. Taught general chemistry and honors general chemistry.  Conducted research on the soil chemistry of a grassland restoration on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. 

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies Program and Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Providence College. 1997-2000. Developed and taught new courses and laboratories in introductory environmental studies, water resources, and environmental chemistry. Guided senior research projects in chemistry and environmental studies.

Adjunct Instructor, Chemistry, Madison Area Technical College, Truax Campus, 1996-1997. Taught laboratory for the General, Organic and Biological Chemistry class and both laboratory and lecture for College Chemistry 2. Prepared and presented lecture material and assisted students with laboratory procedures and data analysis.

Research Assistant, Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1992-1997. Conducted an equilibrium and kinetic laboratory study of dolomite dissolution; designed and constructed ion-selective microelectrodes for use in soils; analyzed data with aquatic chemistry speciation models. Co-wrote grant proposal and secured University grant.

Teaching Assistant, Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jan.- June 1996. Conducted laboratory/greenhouse sessions for course on plant nutrition management. Presented lecture on weekly topic; supervised student experiments; conducted review sessions for laboratory final examination.

Science Teacher with United States Peace Corps, Cameroon, West Africa, 1990 - 1992. Taught chemistry and physics to Cameroonian students at the Advanced and Ordinary levels (as per the British system). Worked with agricultural extension program of Heifer Project International to develop farming and marketing cooperatives.

Physical Scientist Program Analyst and Congressional Liaison, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Washington, D.C., Jan.-June 1989. Evaluated science program in undersea research and recommended future priorities to program director. Participated in congressional briefings on NOAA aquatic research.

Marine Science Policy Fellow, National Sea Grant Program, NOAA, Washington, D.C., Jan. 1988 - Jan. 1989. Acted as technical liaison for development and coordination of research programs; participated in administrative briefings on research achievements; attended interagency planning meetings.

Sherman, L. and K. Brye. 2023. Temporal changes in soil profile chemical properties in an 18-yr grassland restoration in the US Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. Agrosyst. Geosci. Environ.  

Sedghi, N., R. Fox, L. Sherman, C. Gaudlip*, and R. Weil. 2023. Aerial interseeding and planting green to enhance nitrogen capture and cover crop biomass carbon. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 

Krahforst, C., L. A. Sherman, and K. Kehm. 2022. Trace metal enrichment in a tidally influenced, rural tributary of the upper Chesapeake Bay. Mar. Pollut. Bull., Vol. 175, February 2022, 113377. 

Sherman, L.A. and K. Brye. 2019. Soil chemical property changes in response to long-term pineapple cultivation in Costa Rica. Agrosyst. Geosci. Environ. Vol 2, Issue 1. 

Gaudlip, C.*, N. Sedghi, R. Fox, L. Sherman, and R. Weil. 2019. Cover Cropping in Extremes of Weather. Maryland Agronomy News, June 11, 2019. 

*WAC undergraduate

  • W. Alton Jones Associate Professorship, Washington College, 2007-present. 
  • Clare Boothe Luce Professorship in Analytical Chemistry, Henry Luce Foundation. 2001-2006.

In Environmental Chemistry we study the reactions controlling the cycling of both natural chemical species and anthropogenic pollutants in the water, soil and air environments of our earth system. The chemical processes operating in the natural environment, including acid-base, complexation, redox, photochemical and biotic degradation phenomena are examined.

Throughout the course, the chemistry underlying current issues of water, soil and air pollution are studied. In the laboratory portion of the class, we investigate the water quality of local water bodies, including the Chester River, as well as analyze car exhaust from automobiles.