As a member of the instructional faculty, I teach primarily large-enrollment general chemistry and physical sciences courses in the Core Curriculum. I aim to create a welcoming and engaging learning environment using evidence-based teaching practices to promote student belonging and retention in STEM. My pedagogical interests include active learning strategies, inclusive assessment practices, and teaching assistant training and development. My chemical research training focused on metals in medicine applications, exploring small-molecule coordination complex and materials chemistry strategies for molecular imaging. I enjoy incorporating examples from this interdisciplinary field in my teaching whenever possible. Exploring the many real-world applications of introductory chemistry concepts with my students and fostering their curiosity for science is one of my favorite parts of my role.
- Courses Taught:
- Comprehensive General Chemistry I, II, III (CHEM 11100, 11200, 11300)
- The Chemistry of Food & Cooking (CHEM 12600 & PHSC 12200)
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Assistant Instructional Professor
2020-present
Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching
Chicago, Illinois
Teaching Certificate
2018
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois
Ph.D. in Chemistry
2020
State University of New York at Buffalo, University Honors College
Buffalo, New York
B.S. in Chemistry & B.A. in Mathematics
2015
Kling, K.; McLeod, S.M.; Lant, H.M.C.; Dragisich, V., A Tale of Two Pedagogical Strategies: Investigating Student Experience Through a Three-Pillared General Chemistry Course Redesign. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01281
McLeod, S.M.; Lant, H.M.C., From the Palette to the Plate: A Student-Centered Approach to Enhancing Scientific Literacy Through Art and Food Chemistry, In Student-Centered Learning: Enhancing Education Through Active Engagement, Zhao, M., Eds.; Nova Science Publishers, Inc.: Hauppauge, NY, 2025; pp 87-98. https://doi.org/10.52305/CEQC1480
McLeod, S.M.; Meade, T.J., Magnetic Resonance Theranostics: An Overview of Gadolinium(III)-based Strategies and Magnetic Particle Imaging, In Metal Ions in Bio-Imaging Techniques, Sigel, A., Freisinger, E., Sigel, R.K.O., Eds.; Walter de Gruyter, GmbH: Berlin, Germany, 2021; pp 347-370. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110685701-018
McLeod, S.M.*; Robison, L.*; Parigi, G.; Olszewski, A.; Drout, R.J.; Gong, X.; Islamoglu, T.; Luchinat, C.; Farha, O.K.; Meade, T.J., Maximizing Magnetic Resonance Contrast in Gd(III) Nanoconjugates: Investigation of Proton Relaxation in Zr Metal-Organic Frameworks. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2020, 12 (37), 41157-41166. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c13571
Associate Pedagogy Fellow,
Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning,
2022- - present
Pedagogy Fellow, Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning
Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning,
2022
Graduate Teaching Fellow
Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching,
2018 - 2019
Graduate Research Fellow
National Science Foundation
2017 - 2020