Hunter Joins MCS As Director of Core Education
Heidi Opdyke
- Associate Dean of Marketing and Communications, MCS
- Email opdyke@andrew.cmu.edu
- Phone 412-268-9982
As a Carnegie Mellon undergraduate, Kevin Hunter benefited from professors who invested in his success. In his new role as the Mellon College of Science’s first director of core education, he wants to do the same for incoming and current students.
“I’m really looking forward to advising and building relationships with students,” Hunter said.
Hunter has made an impact on MCS undergraduate education since he was an undergraduate in the Department of Chemistry. He and a fellow student, Danielle Schlesinger, launched a mentoring program that evolved into the teaching assistant program for EUREKA! Discovery and Its Impact, the college’s first-year seminar. He also helped create two of MCS’ standout events: MCS Pride Day and the MCS Ball.
After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Carnegie Mellon in 2015, Hunter worked as a chemistry instructor at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. While there, he taught organic chemistry, and he developed a new course, the Chemistry of Photography, where students learned the chemical processes behind film photography.
“I loved the experience of teaching in Qatar,” Hunter said. “It really showed me I wanted to teach at the college level.”
Hunter came back to the United States and attended the University of Iowa, earning his Ph.D. in chemistry in 2023. For the next two years, he taught at Northwestern University in the chemistry department. When he heard about the new director of core education position at MCS, he was excited at the opportunity.
“It’s comforting in a lot of ways coming back to CMU,” Hunter said. “I love teaching lectures, and I’m excited for this shift toward advising.”
As director of core education, Hunter will work with Senior Associate Dean for Student Success and Strategic Initiatives Maggie Braun and Associate Dean for Educational Initiatives Ken Hovis to lead the MCS Core Education program. He will be teaching EUREKA! and a science communication course, and in fall 2026, he will start advising first-year students.
“We’re excited to welcome Kevin back to MCS,” Braun said. “His extensive experience, upbeat energy and talent for building meaningful connections will strengthen our community and help our students thrive.”
Hunter also said he hopes to develop new classes for Carnegie Mellon students, including bringing his Chemistry of Photography course to Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. The department has a number of classes that highlight chemistry in life like cooking, cosmetics and fabric.
“By collaborating with offices and departments across campus, Kevin will help ensure that all MCS students begin their studies with a shared foundation — familiar with the resources, communities and opportunities that support their growth as scientists and mathematicians,” Braun said.
Hunter said he looks forward to seeing students in the classroom and on campus.
“CMU is such a cool place, and it’s very special to me,” Hunter said. “I want to create the same experience I had as much as possible for students.”
