Donna Coolidge, M.A.

Biography

Donna Coolidge is an adjunct chemistry laboratory instructor and retired environmental chemist with over 35 years of laboratory leadership, management, and analytical chemistry experience at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC). She retired in 2018 as Assistant Director of Monitoring and Research in the Analytical Laboratories Division, where she led five Illinois EPA–accredited laboratories and supervised more than 100 laboratory and administrative staff.

In addition to her extensive professional career in environmental and wastewater chemistry, Ms. Coolidge brings significant instructional experience to higher education. Since 2021, she has served as an Adjunct Chemistry Laboratory Instructor at Wheaton College, overseeing laboratory preparation and safety, supervising teaching assistants, instructing students during laboratory sessions, and assessing laboratory reports and exams.

Her professional expertise spans laboratory quality assurance/quality control, regulatory compliance, budgeting, personnel management, safety, and laboratory information management systems. She has long been involved in professional organizations supporting water and environmental analysis and has received recognition for excellence in laboratory analysis.

Education

Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Leadership Development Program, 2014

St. Xavier University, Chicago, IL
M.A., Education, 1995

Illinois State University, Normal, IL
B.S., Chemistry, 1983

Illinois State Board of Education
Professional Educator License (Secondary Education)
Endorsements: Chemistry, General Science, Physics

Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Student Internship, 1984
Acid rain wet deposition measurements

Professional Affiliations

• Water Environment Federation
• Illinois Water Environment Association
• Midwest Water Analysts Association

Areas of Expertise

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental and Wastewater Chemistry
• Laboratory Quality Assurance and Quality Control
• Laboratory Management and Accreditation
• Chemistry Laboratory Instruction
• Safety and Chemical Hygiene
• Budgeting and Personnel Supervision

Research

Ms. Coolidge’s professional work has focused on applied analytical chemistry in environmental and wastewater monitoring. Her experience includes directing technical studies, implementing analytical protocols in accredited laboratories, managing QA/QC programs, and contributing to regulatory review and response. Earlier research experience includes undergraduate research in coordination chemistry and internship work at Argonne National Laboratory related to acid rain wet deposition analysis.

Professional Affiliations

• Chemistry Laboratory Courses (Undergraduate)

Selected Professional Recognition

• WEF Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award, 2017