Warren Treon

Despite his early academic accomplishments, Warren Treon had no desire to attend college or any other form of secondary education, but he quickly changed his mind when he dual enrolled on University of North Georgia's (UNG) Blue Ridge Campus.

"I took a math class and a psychology class and fell in love with college," Treon said.

Now, the 22-year-old from Blue Ridge, Georgia, is pursuing a degree in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry. Treon's goal is to become an optometrist.

"To me, the most interesting thing is how fast and precise the eye can focus," said the UNG senior who plans to graduate in May 2021.

Treon credits the faculty and staff at UNG with helping him maintain his focus in science. He is involved with an undergraduate research project with Dr. Levi Miller, assistant professor of chemistry. And Treon is becoming a learning assistant (LA) for chemistry Dr. Megan Foley, assistant professor of chemistry.

An LA trains one-on-one with a professor for a lecture or lab class, and then helps other students understanding the concepts presented in class. LAs also take a pedagogy class to know how to teach the concepts in a clear and effective manner. The combination introduces students to teaching as a pathway in sciences such as physics or chemistry.

"I saw an opportunity to help me better understand the material and to teach it to students and help spark a passion in them that Dr. John Leyba, interim dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, sparked in me," he said.

Treon also is the current president of the UNG Society of Chemistry Students chapter that has seen a dramatic increase in its membership in the past two years.

"Last academic year, we had one member come on a regular basis," said Treon, "This year, we average 12-14 members. That's a big turnaround."