Olivet Nazarene University

Willa Harper

Dr. Willa Harper is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Sciences in Olivet's College of Arts and Sciences. She teaches both introductory and general chemistry and Physical Chemistry Kinetics/Structure.

A recipient of Northern Illinois University's Dissertation Completion Award (2001-2002), Dr. Harper's research interests include investigations of the chemistry of the eye, particularly studies involving processes related to light and age-related visual disorders. She has been published in Photochemistry and Photobiology, producing such articles as "Studies of all-trans-retinal as a photooxidizing agent" (2001) and others.

Dr. Harper has a large extended family that stretches over most of the state of Illinois and into other states as well. Her hobbies include working puzzles and knitting.