Professor Emerita Felicia Etzkorn retired this past year after over 23 years with the Virginia Tech community. Etzkorn’s research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell division and collagen protein folding and stability. Her work was funded by both the National Institutes for Health and the National Science Foundation.
Etzkorn has published more than 116 papers, abstracts, and reviews and served as an advisor for Virginia Tech Post-baccalaureate Research and Education Program (VT-PREP). Etzkorn has also served on numerous grant review committees for the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation and has reviewed proposals for other agencies as well as reviewed manuscripts for high-impact journals.
Etzkorn also made her impact on the broader chemistry community through the publication of her textbook by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2020 titled “Green Chemistry: Principles and Case Studies.” Etzkorn has been an active member of the international green chemistry movement, participating in meetings of the Beyond Benign Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community.
Etzkorn taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in organic and green chemistry, creating a lasting legacy in both the classroom and beyond.