James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics

Mission Statement

The James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics seeks

to equip students for the pursuit of excellence and life-long learning in Science and Mathematics,
to prepare students for success in post-graduate programs (e.g., medical school, dental school, etc), and
to seek truth through the integration of faith and knowledge, thereby cultivating a deep appreciation and sense of responsibility for the Creation.

Vision Statement

Christ-centered. Scientifically sound. The James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics seeks to maintain and improve the effectiveness of the science courses and the mathematics courses offered in the Common Core in the curriculum. This college also seeks to provide quality courses in its departments which will prepare students for further study and careers in their chosen fields. The James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics seeks to incorporate the use of appropriate technologies in its courses and to provide its students with opportunities to learn and practice problem-solving skills so that they will better be able to adapt their skills to those needed in a changing world. The division seeks to validate the quality of its programs through internal assessment, through monitoring the success of its graduates, and through recognition of these programs by peers and accrediting institutions.

Programs

With the exception of Mathematics, all other degree programs in the James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics are Areas of Specialization instead of traditional majors. As such, they do not require a student to have a minor. An Area of Specialization includes more credits than a traditional major and combines courses from disciplines that are pre-requisites or co-requisites to the focus of specialization.

Dean

Christopher T. Jones
Dean, James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics
Professor of Chemistry
B.A., Erskine College, 1990
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1997
Joined the OBU faculty in 2016.

Department of Mathematics

Faculty

Nathan Drake
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., Clemson University, 2009
M.S., Clemson University, 2004
B.A., MidAmerica Nazarene University, 2002
Joined the OBU faculty in 2018.

Krista Hands
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S., Southern Nazarene University, 2000
M.A., University of Kansas, 2002
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 2007
Joined the OBU faculty in 2010.

Sarah Marsh
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S.E., University of Central Arkansas, 2005
M.A., University of Oklahoma, 2008
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 2011
Joined the OBU faculty in 2011.

Cherith A. Tucker
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
B.A., Southern Nazarene University, 2007
M.A., University of Oklahoma, 2009
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 2013
Joined the OBU faculty in 2013.

Janette Wilson
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
B.S., Oklahoma Baptist University, 1976
M.S., University of Oklahoma, 1978
Joined the OBU faculty in 2017.

Division of Science

Chair

Nathan Malmberg
Chair, Division of Science
Associate Professor of Biochemistry
B.S., University of Wyoming, 1996
Ph.D., University of Colorado, 2004
Joined the OBU faculty in 2005.

Faculty

Yuan-Liang Albert Chen
Professor of Physics
B.S., Chung-Yuan Christian University, 1976
M.S., Baylor University, 1984
Ph.D., Baylor University, 1988
Joined the OBU faculty in 1986.

Contessa E. Edgar
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., University of Sioux Falls, 2003
Ph.D., Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 2009
Joined the OBU faculty in 2012.

Bradley D. Jett
James E. Hurley Professor of Biology
B.S., Oklahoma Baptist University, 1988
M.S., University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 1990
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 1992
Joined the OBU faculty in 1998.

Michael Jordan
Professor of Chemistry
B.S., University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, 1992
Ph.D., University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, 1997
Joined the OBU faculty in 2000.

Yvonne Bongfen Mbote
Associate Professor of Chemistry
B.S., University of Ilorin, Nigeria, 1993
M.S., University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 1995
Ph.D., University of North Dakota, 2010
Joined the OBU faculty in 2012.

John McWilliams
Professor of Natural Science
B.S.E., University of Arkansas, 1978
M.S., Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, 1998
Ed.D., University of Arkansas, 2001
Joined the OBU faculty in 2000.

Roland Ngebichie-Njabon
Chemistry Instructor
B.S., University of Buea Buea, 2001
M.S., Universitaet Siegen, 2005
Ph.D., University of Arkansas, 2013
Joined the OBU faculty in 2016.

Dale A. Utt, Jr.
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., University of Rhode Island, 1981
M.S., College of William and Mary, 1984
Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1988
Joined the OBU faculty in 1989.

Lakshmi C. Kasi Viswanath
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Madras University, India, 2004
M.S., Anna University, India, 2006
M.Ph., Madurai Kamaraj University, India, 2008
Ph.D., Oklahoma State University, 2013
Joined the OBU faculty in 2013.

Tony Yates
Associate Professor of Natural Science
B.S., Oklahoma Christian College, 1981
M.Ed., Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 1999
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 2011
Joined the OBU faculty in 2008.

Biology

Sample Occupations

Please ask a career advisor for help in how to identify resources for the following occupations. Note that some of these occupations require an advanced degree.

Agronomist
Agricultural Researcher
Animal Biologist
Aquatic Biologist
Audiologist
Bacteriologist
Biochemist
BioEngineer
Biological Photographer
Biologist
Biomedical Engineer
Biophysicist
Biotechnologist
Botanist
Chemical Laboratory Technician
Clinical Chemist
Crop Scientist
Cytotechnologist
Dental Hygienist
Dentist
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Emergency Medical Technician
Environmental Analyst
Environmental Attorney
Environmental Ecologist
Entomologist
Epidemiologist
Food Chemist
Food Technologist
Forensics
Forester
Genetic Counselor
Geneticist
Histologist
Horticulturist
Immunologist
Licensed Practical Nurse
Limnologist
Marine Biologist
Medical Doctor
Medical Examiner
Medical Illustrator
Medical Researcher
Microbiologist
Mycology
Occupational Therapist
Oceanographer
Ornithologist
Parasitologist
Park Naturalist
Pharmacist
Pharmacologist
Physician’s Assistant
Physical Therapist
Physiologist
Plant Pathologist
Plant Physiology
Podiatrist
Psychobiologist
Science Writer
Speech Therapist
Sports Nutritionist
Soil Conservationist
Teacher-University, Community College, High School
Toxicologist
Veterinarian
Virologist
Wildlife Ecologist
Zoologist

Chemistry

Sample Occupations

Please ask a career advisor for help in how to identify resources for the following occupations. Note that some of these occupations require an advanced degree.

Administrative Office
Air Analyst
Biochemist
Chemical Analyst
Chemical Engineers
Chemical Plant Operators
Chemical-Lab Technician
Chemical Technologists
Chemist
Chemist, Analytical
Chemist, Agricultural
Chemist, Clinical
Chemist, Dye
Chemist, Food
Chemist, Glass
Chemist, Industrial
Chemist, Inorganic
Chemist, Leather
Chemist, Literature Editor
Chemist, Medical Technologist
Chemist, Nuclear
Chemist, Organic
Chemist, Pharmaceutical
Chemist, Physical
Chemist, Polymers
Chemist, Product
Development
Chemist, Quality
Chemist, Soil
Chemist, Textile
Chemical Laboratory Supervisor
Combustion Engineer
Customer Relations Manager
Dental Lab Technicians
Dentist Environmental Analyst
Electron Microscopist
EPR Technician
ESR Technician
Facilities Manager
Food and Drug Inspector
Forensics
Geneticists
Genetic Counselor
Geo-chemist
Hematology Technologist
Industrial Engineer
Industrial Hygienist
Insurance Claims Adjuster
Laboratory Instructor
Laboratory Assistant
Laboratory Tester
Manufacturers Representative
Market Research Analyst
Narcotics Investigator
Operations Manager
Packaging Manager
Patent Examiner Personnel Manager
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.
Pharmacologist/Toxicologist
Pharmacist
Physician’s Assistant
Plant Protection Inspector
Private Business Owner
Process Engineer
Production Engineer
Production Manager
Purchasing Agent
Quality Control Engineer
Quality Control Supervisor
Quality Control Technician
Radiologist
Sanitarian
Supervisor, Publication
Teacher, College
Technical Library Operations
Technical Writer
Toxicologist
Translator, Scientific Documents
Veterinarian
Water Purification Chemist
Control Chemist, Research
Nuclear Technicians
Physicians
Medical Technician
Microbiologist

Mathematics

Sample Occupations

Actuarial Scientist
Mathematics Teacher
Statistician
Cryptographer
Operations Research
Systems Analyst
Space Scientist
Applied Mathematician

Physics

Sample Occupations

Please ask a career advisor for help in how to identify resources for the following occupations. Note that some of these occupations require an advanced degree.

General

Acoustics
Astrophysicist
Atomic
Biophysicists
Chemical
Cosmologist
Cryogenics
Crystallographers
Development
Digital
Electricity and Magnetism
Electro-Magnetic
Electronic
Elementary Particle
Engineer
Experimental
Fluids
Graphics
Health
Laser
Light
Low Temperature
Medical
Molecular
Nuclear
Optics
Physicist
Particle
Plasma
Research
Rheologists
Scientist
Solid Earth
Solid State
Space & Planetary
Temperature
Theoretical

Specific

Aerospace
Aerodynamist
Agronomist
Airline Dispatcher
Airplane Pilot/Navigator
Air Traffic Controller
Architect
Biomedical Engineer
Callistics Experts
College Teacher
Computer Programmer
Computer-Systems Engineer
Consultant
Crime Laboratory Analyst
Criminalist
Curator/Natural History
Editor (Science)
Energy Occupations
Engineering Technician
Engineering Technologist
Environmental Scientist
Flight Engineer
Geophysicist
Hydrologist
Industrial Health Engineer
Industrial Hygienist
Meteorologist
Microbiologist
Nuclear Engineer
Nuclear Technicians
Optometrist
Optometric Assistant
Pharmacologist
Photo-optics Technician
Protogrammetric Engineer
Photogrammetrist
Physical Scientist
Physician
Physicist Technician
Radiologic
Technologist Radiologist
Safety Manage
Salesperson, Scientific Apparatus
Science Technologist
Science Seismologist
Stress Analyst
Teacher, Science
Technical Secretary
Writer, Technical
Zoologist

Related Occupations

Astronomer
Engineer
Geographer
Geologist
Mathematician
Meteorologist
Thermodynamics
Vacuum
Visualization
Information Scientist
Instrumental Technician
Laboratory Tester
Laser Technician
Librarian, Special
Machinist
Management Trainee
Manufacturers’ Rep
Mechanical Engineering
Technician
Medical Lab Technician
Medical Physicist
Medical Technologist
Metallurgist
Oceanographer
Science Technician

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Mathematics, BA

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Science in Education

Minor