John Leyba, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Department: School of Science and Mathematics
Phone #: 316-942-4291, ext. 2109
E-mail: LeybaJ@newmanu.edu
Office #: HSC119
Dr. Leyba received his bachelor of science degree in Chemistry from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) in 1986 and he earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1990. He held the positions of Senior Scientist, Senior Scientist A, and Principal Scientist with Westinghouse Savannah River Company at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site. In addition, he was the Radiochemistry Group Leader for Rust Federal Services’ Clemson Technical Center located in Anderson, SC. He also held a Visiting Assistant Professor appointment in the Chemistry Department and an Adjunct Assistant Professor appointment in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Science at Clemson University. Just prior to joining the faculty at Newman, Dr. Leyba was the Denver Area Director of Operations for Canberra Industries. Dr. Leyba joined the Newman faculty in 2002. He currently teaches courses in Physics, Earth and Space Science, Chemistry, and Sonography. Dr. Leyba has over 25 peer-reviewed publications including a paper involving the first observation of ⁷⁹Se in Savannah River Site High Level Waste. Dr. Leyba’s research interests involve fast chemical separations of radioactive materials.

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David Shubert, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences/Professor of Chemistry
Department: School of Science and Mathematics
Phone #: 316-942-4291, ext. 2112
E-mail: ShubertD@newmanu.edu
Office #: HSC132 / MN218.5
B.S. in Chemistry Fort Hays State University
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry University of Colorado
Dr. Shubert earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Fort Hays State University in 1983, and then went on to the University of Colorado to earn a Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1987 as a National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow. He was inducted into the national ARCS Foundation prior to joining Newman University in 1987. Although his area of expertise lies in organometallic chemistry, Dr. Shubert has taught introductory, general, organic, analytical, instrumental and bio-chemistry, in addition to earth and space science, general physical science and chemistry/physics for nurse anesthesia. Although teaching remains his primary interest, Dr. Shubert has worked as a chemical consultant with several local industries, including Vulcan Chemicals and BG Products. Working with colleagues from five independent colleges, and with financial support from the National Science Foundation, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation and the A.V. Davis Foundation, Dr. Shubert has offered numerous workshops that provide training and access to modern instrumentation to high school chemistry teachers. His research interests have evolved from organometallic chemistry to chemical education.

Dr. Shubert has served Newman University in a variety of administrative positions. He now serves as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Jeremy Karr, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Department: School of Science and Mathematics
Phone #: 316-942-4291, ext. 2356
E-mail: KarrJ@newmanu.edu
Office #: HSC112
Jeremy Karr received his bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2000. He earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008. While in graduate school Karr was a National Science Foundation Fellow in the GK-12 program called Project Fulcrum. Karr would work hand-in-hand with middle and elementary school teachers and their students to help improve their science curriculum. While Karr's area of expertise is in analytical chemistry, his research has focused on the production of biodegradable composite material that is aimed at replacing metal pins, plates, and screws used in fracture fixation. As indicated by Karr's undergraduate degree, teaching has always been one of his passions.