College of Natural Sciences honors three Professor Laureates in 2022

Jeffrey C. Hansen, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has been named a 2022 College of Natural Sciences Professor Laureate for his research on the biochemistry of chromatin, the genetic material of higher organisms and the substance of chromosomes. He also teaches Comprehensive Biochemistry 1, a course taken by all undergraduate biochemistry majors that covers the structure of proteins and nucleic acids at an advanced level. In 2016, Hansen became the associate chair for undergraduate studies in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, allowing him to further pursue his interests in undergraduate education. 

Benjamin Clegg, a professor in the Department of Psychology, has been named a 2022 College of Natural Sciences Professor Laureate for his research on cognitive psychology. Clegg earned his doctoral degree in psychology from the University of Oregon, and after a post-doctorate at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, was hired as an assistant professor in cognitive psychology at CSU in 1999. He was promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure in 2005, and full professor in 2011. In his time at CSU, he published more than 80 articles and papers, was a key member of 13 grants and has conducted more than 80 presentations at professional meetings. 

Amy Prieto, a professor in the Department of Chemistry, has been named a 2022 College of Natural Sciences Professor Laureate for her research on lithium-ion batteries. Prieto is the founder and chief technology officer of Prieto Battery, Inc, whose goal is to commercialize a novel, three-dimensional, high-power density, safe lithium-ion battery made from aqueous based electroplating baths. In addition to this research, she has active projects developing nanoparticle inks for photovoltaics, light metal nanoparticles for hydrogen storage and novel nanowire structures. In 2011, she was named the ExxonMobil Solid State Chemistry Faculty Fellow, a Presidential Early Career Awardee for Scientists and Engineers — an honor she received from former U.S. President Barack Obama — and won the Excellence in Storage Technology Commercialization Award from the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association. In 2022, she was awarded the Inorganic Nanoscience Award from the American Chemical Society. She is an associate editor for Chemical Communications and has been inducted as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Her batteries are currently on display at the Smithsonian Institute Lemelson Center in the “Places of Invention” exhibit.