Helen James
Helen James taught chemistry at Weber from 1971-2000
Helen James was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska to an attorney and farmer father and a mother who studied as a chemist and teacher, but was unable to pursue a career due to the Great Depression. She graduated from Nebraska City High School.
Helen obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Nebraska. She was originally a math major, and changed to chemistry near the end of her undergraduate career. She decided to pursue graduate school to enhance her chemistry knowledge. She spent a year at the University of Arizona as a post-doctoral research associate, and decided she wanted to work at a school that put teaching first and research second.
Helen started working as an assistant professor in chemistry at Weber State College in 1971 as the first female science professor, and the second woman hired to teach in the College of Science. Throughout her career, she served on many committees across campus, including hiring committees, the athletic board, strategic planning committees, and served as the university curriculum chair for six years. Under her leadership a policies and procedures manual was created for curriculum. Helen loves sports and served on the athletic board for twenty years. She helped create equity for female athletes with the implementation of Title IX. Helen was the department chair for Chemistry from 1993-1998, and interim dean for the College of Science from 1987-1988.
As a professor, Helen worked hard to build a rapport with her students. By the end of the term she was able to call everyone by name. Her original research interests were in the use of ion selective electrodes, before concentrating on chemical education. She was always willing to try new and creative teaching methods. In one of her classes, Helen mixed equivalent volumes of strong acid and caustic base, then drank the resulting salt water solution. She also helped establish the chemistry faculty scholarship. In 1999, Helen was awarded the H. Aldous Dixon Award, and in 2001 she received an honorary degree from WSU.
Helen retired in 2000 and moved back to Nebraska. In 2002 she married Joel Lundak.
Helen James, 1971
Helen James working with a student, 1999-2000
Helen James working with a student, 1999-2000
Exhibit in the Stewart Library