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VWU Welcomes New Faculty
Meet Dr. Jenelle Fortunato, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
University News | September 25, 2024
Before coming to Virginia Wesleyan University this fall, Dr. Jenelle Fortunato was a postdoctoral research scholar in the Material Science and Engineering Department at NC State University in Raleigh, NC. Prior to this role, and while she was writing and defending her doctoral dissertation, she served as a Visiting Lecturer at Lafayette College (Easton, PA) in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.
Fortunato, who hails from Vestal, New York, holds a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology from Limestone University in Gaffney, S.C; a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA; and a doctoral degree in Environmental Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. While at Limestone University, she played four years for the school’s NCAA Division II, top 10-ranked lacrosse team, serving as team captain during her junior and senior seasons. The team won four conference titles and played in two NCAA national championship games during her undergraduate years.
This semester, she’s teaching primarily first-year courses: CHEM 120 Labs - “Intro to Chemistry,” CHEM 130 Lab - “Chemistry for Health Sciences,” and WES 100 - “The Who, Watt, Where of Energy Production.” She is also staying connected to her research.
“My research area is focused on the synthesis and characterization of novel inorganic materials for use in electrochemical systems. More specifically, I study how these materials store charge for applications like energy storage (e.g., new types of battery materials); for water desalination; and electrochromism (e.g., color changing windows).”
Outside of her work at VWU, she enjoys traveling or camping with her husband; staying active and running with her dog, Tilly; coffee; and renovating their 90-year-old house.
“I find teaching and mentoring very rewarding, so I'm excited to work with students and teach chemistry! Moreover, I went to a small liberal arts college myself, so I look forward to joining a small campus community again.”