Kimberly Thomas

Dr. Kimberly Thomas

Professor, Chemistry
Phone: 860-343-5765
Email: kthomas@mxcc.edu Indicates Email address
Office Location: Wheaton Hall Room 217
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
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Dr. Kimberly A. Thomas joined Middlesex Community College in the fall of 2008 after teaching for 15 years at the University of Rhode Island, Saint Joseph College, Southern Connecticut State University, Quinnipiac University, and Gateway Community College.

Kim earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Rhode Island, her master’s degree in chemistry from Saint Joseph College, and her bachelor of science degree in biology from Southern Connecticut State University. Her career has included both academia and industry. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she worked at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station analyzing produce and environmental samples for PCBs and pesticide residues. She later worked at a small private company performing quality control analyses of medical and pharmaceutical products.

Prior to returning to college in pursuit of graduate study, she worked in energetic materials at The Olin Corporation performing research on safer and more effective propellants for automotive and military applications. Her work contributed to a U.S. patent for “Continuous Process For The Production Of Azide Salts,” issued March 24, 1992.

While pursuing her graduate degrees, Kim began teaching undergraduates and found that she enjoyed the challenge of clearly conveying sometimes difficult concepts to students. Teaching, along with research, soon became a focus during graduate school and continued after she earned her Ph.D. in 2000.

Kim’s time at MxCC has been enjoyable and extremely busy. She has focused on serving students better by developing a new 3-credit chemistry course for non-science majors (CHE*101), reevaluating and modifying course descriptions and prerequisites, broadening chemistry course offerings, creatively scheduling courses to meet student demand, supporting students by tutoring in the College Learning Center, and ensuring a safe and organized laboratory environment. In all of her courses, Kim hopes to engage students by sharing with them both her academic and real-world experiences.

When not in the classroom or lab, Kim is very busy with a variety of hobbies and interests. She also cares for two indoor cats and a colony of abandoned feral cats.