Biography

Dave Pursell joined the GGC faculty in 2007 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the executive director of Penn Chemistry. Pursell served as GGC’s Associate Dean for the School of Science and Technology from 2007-2010 and then as the Administrator of Part Time Science Faculty from 2010-2012, when he returned to full-time faculty duties. Dave has taught college courses in all areas of chemistry, environmental law, military strategy, and advanced technologies in military operations. For 25 years, he served worldwide as a U.S. Army combat engineer with key assignments as company commander at Fort Drum, NY; battalion plans and operations officer on the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ); speechwriter for a three-star general; tactics faculty at the Army's staff college; and chemistry faculty at the U.S. Military Academy. Professor Pursell earned his Ph.D. in chemical physics at Penn under the direction of Professor Hai-Lung Dai. His research interests span the broad field of photochemistry at interfaces as well as science education. He has published and presented widely in the fields of chemistry, chemistry education, and military strategy and operations. Dave's hobbies include sports (especially swimming, basketball, and volleyball), music (listens to most everything but plays nothing), movies, and art. Dave is married to the former Mary Gabriel Hendricks of Leavenworth, Kansas. They have a daughter, Hannah, who resides with her husband, Tyler, and grandbabies Jack and Charlie.