Biography

I currently serve as the Program Director of the Chemical Technology Program at Cape Fear Community College. Since 2008, I have helped the program attain a $1,000,000 instrumentation laboratory facility that rivals four-year colleges and universities across the nation and over $1,000,000 in grant money from the National Science Foundation and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

These grant projects supported a community-wide water study, purchased a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GCMS) system as well as two ion chromatography (ICs), and a high school chemical technology competition, titled the “Chem-Techathon”, where high school students selected and performed a research project while on the CFCC campus, a laboratory check-out program for local school systems, the addition of a Program Liaison & Recruiter, and a paid internship opportunity with Quality Chemical Laboratories located in Wilmington, NC.

In total, I have been teaching at the community college level for 25 years. Before and throughout my teaching career, I have served as a Research Assistant for the University of Virginia’s Medical School Department of Anesthesiology and ran and operated my own retail businesses.

Education

• Masters of Science (M.S.) Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Lehigh University
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Biochemistry, University of Virginia
• Associate of Science (A.S.) in Science, Mountain Empire Community College
• Certificate in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, Lehigh University
• Certificate in Bio-Organic Processes, Lehigh University

Awards and Publications

• 2018 – National Science Foundation Grant, $470,415: CT-MERGES: Chemical Technology: Maintaining Enrollment, Recruitment, and Engagement of Students
• 2016 – National Science Foundation Grant, $402,048: CT-EnTICE: Chemical Technology: Enrolling Technician and Improving Community Engagement
• 2014 – Burroughs Wellcome Fund, $150,000: CT-RISE: Chemical Technology: Renewing Interest in Science Education
• 2010 – National Science Foundation Grant, $150,000: Project W.A.T.E.R.S.: Ways to Improve Teaching and Education in Regard to Science

What CFCC Students Have to Say

• The best teacher out there really knows how to engage with students.
• He is the instructor that can do it all. He inspires so many of us to keep going and not to give up. He teaches basically every class in the chemical technology department and always makes time for us. He is an amazing instructor that never leaves his students behind. He will make sure you have not just a good understanding but a great understanding of what you’re learning and how to apply it. As well as, leaving room for us to discover new possibilities.
• Mr. Holbrook makes any content he teaches engaging and fun while still teaching his students the key knowledge they’ll need to enter the workforce or a four-year school.