John Pollard

Dean, W.A. Franke Honors College
Professor of Practice

Degrees and Appointments:

  • B.S. 1991, St. John's University
  • Ph.D. 1996, University of Arizona
  • Director of Technology, Coating Innovations LLC, Tucson AZ, 1997
  • Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, 2000
  • Associate Professor of Practice, CBC, 2014
  • Associate Dean for Academics and Curricular Innovation, W.A. Franke Honors College, 2018
  • Interim Dean, W.A. Franke Honors College, 2022

Specialties: General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Teaching and Learning

Research Interests: Peer-peer interactions in teaching, Framing concepts in general chemistry, Knowledge chunking in general chemistry, The role metacognition plays in active learning

Scholarly Activities

Teaching Activities

As the Associate Dean for the University of W.A. Franke Honors College, John leads the development of innovative learning experiences for students that include experiential learning opportunities at the Biosphere 2 facility, co-taught interdisciplinary courses, and the implementation of the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) methodology classes meant to promote cultural competencies with Honors students. Learning theories and practice are also at the center of John's research as he studies how metacognition, self-reported learning, and group interactions influence learning outcomes during active learning in Collaborative Learning Space environments. He also studies how learning environments can influence the development of interdisciplinary reasoning skills in students.