Dr. Sharron K. Jenkins-Dingle
In 1991 Dr. Sharron K. Jenkins-Dingle received a B.S. degree in chemistry from North Carolina A&T State University. In 1997, she graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a Ph.D. in chemistry. Majoring in “biophysical chemistry,” Dr. Jenkins was one of eight African American women across the country to receive a doctoral degree in chemistry in the year 1997. She spent her twenties researching the oxidative degradation of sickle hemoglobin in patients with Sickle Cell Disease. Dr. Jenkins has a distinguished list of research publications on “trans-fat in fast food” and HIV/AIDS, and she is considered an expert in online course development. As Co-Principal Investigator and campus Director of a multi-million dollar NSF grant, Dr. Jenkins implemented a successful program for minorities at Purdue North Central University where she was responsible for recruiting and retaining minority students in the sciences. She has served as a professor of chemistry (biophysical) for over 20 years – six years at Columbia College of Chicago, six years at Purdue University Northwest, where she was a tenured faculty member , and seven years and counting at Georgia Gwinnett College. Today, she is leading the way in HIV/AIDS education and prevention.