Dr. Lewis completed his doctorate in chemistry at the University of Oklahoma in 1967, taught as an instructor at Oklahoma and then moved to Sioux Falls College (now University of Sioux Falls) in 1969. In 1972, he advised a group of eight students, supported by an NSF grant, who conducted one of the first comprehensive analyses of water quality in the Big Sioux River throughout its length. This was the beginning of the undergraduate research initiative at the University. Since that time, Dr. Lewis has supervised many undergraduate research projects in chemistry, culminating in more than two dozen papers at the South Dakota Academy of Science and at national and regional meetings of the American Chemical Society. The theme of his research has been the characterization of weak interactions leading to the formation of molecular complexes. Dr. Lewis served as President of the South Dakota Academy of Science and was, for many years, secretary and program chair for the Sioux Valley Section of the American Chemical Society. Dr. Lewis has taught every course in the USF undergraduate chemistry curriculum, and he has also taught or co-taught courses such as Issues in Science and Religion, Critical Thinking, History and Philosophy of Science, Writing and Intellectual Traditions and several sections of Honors Seminar. Curriculum design in chemistry has engaged Dr. Lewis throughout his teaching career. He has written lecture and laboratory texts for general chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry for use by his students.
